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Chapter Text

When Draco woke, the morning light was filtering through the curtains and there was a warm body against his back, an arm around his chest. He lay with his eyes closed a moment, savouring the familiarity of waking up together. Then he looked down, something in his chest squeezing as he saw dark skin, a calloused hand. Harry. Of course. Not Astoria.

He shook his head, clearing it of the fuzziness of early morning. Harry reacted to his movement, his arm tightening as he tilted his hips, pressing his semi-hard length against Draco's naked arse.

Draco smiled and arched into him, twisting his upper body slightly so he could reach behind himself, tangling his fingers in Harry's mess of hair.

Harry gave a little sigh behind him and then nuzzled into Draco's neck. He felt the wet rasp of Harry's tongue, and then the faint scrape of teeth.

Draco tugged lightly on Harry's hair, pulling him closer and he took the hint, kissing the spot again, before biting down, his mouth hot against Draco's neck. Draco hissed at the flare of pain and then Harry sucked at his skin, making a little grunting noise of pleasure as he ground his cock, harder now, against Draco's arse.

No, this was not Astoria in the bed he'd shared with her for the entirety of their marriage, but that was okay. Somehow he thought she'd be happy that he'd finally found someone to share himself with.

Harry left off kissing Draco's neck, pushing himself up onto one elbow and looking down on the spot with pleasure.

'You've marked me, haven't you?' Draco said, unable to keep the smile from his face. Harry looked so happy with himself, still soft and messy from sleep.

Harry reached up to touch the collar he still wore around his neck. 'It's only fair,' he said in response. 'You get to show people I'm yours -' he shrugged and Draco felt heat curl within him.

'Are you saying you'll wear that in public?' he asked, voice suddenly rough.

Harry smiled, a shy smile that was somehow challenging as well. 'Do you want me to?'

In answer Draco rolled over, pushing Harry onto his back as he lifted a leg, sliding on top of him.

Draco almost lost his breath at the wanting that entered Harry's eyes, as their naked bodies lined up against each other.

He leaned down and their mouths met in a kiss that was somehow even better than the night before. There was no uncertainty to it now, and Draco knew that things had changed for both of them.

Harry opened his mouth and Draco groaned at the heat of it, at the slick slide of Harry's tongue against his as they kissed. Harry's arms caressed Draco's sides, running down his body to cup his arse. Draco ground his hips, enjoying the way Harry's grip tightened momentarily as their cocks rubbed against each other. He did it again and then again, burying his fingers in Harry's hair as their kisses got messier.

Then Harry stopped, pushing lightly on Draco's chest until he moved back, leaning on his elbows, hips still flush with Harry's.

He looked down at Harry, at the way his pupils were blown wide with desire, his lips flushed, his breathing coming quickly. Just the sight of him like this made Draco want to take him to pieces until he was begging to come.

The next words out of Harry's mouth drove every thought from his mind.

'I want to suck you,' Harry said, voice low, as he squeezed Draco's arse, pushing up into him again.

Draco looked down at him for the briefest of seconds before he began to move, pushing back until he was sitting on his heels, knees either side of Harry's hips. He thought for a second about what position would be easiest for Harry, but Harry was already reaching for him, urging him up the bed until he knelt so he was straddling Harry's chest.

Draco's cock was bobbing just inches from Harry's mouth, all he would have to do was tilt his hips forward … Draco reached sideways for the bedside table, just managing to graze his wand. He whispered a cleaning charm over both of them just as Harry took advantage of his position to close his mouth around the end of Draco's cock. It was hot and wet and he sucked back immediately.

'Fuck, Potter,' Draco groaned, as he straightened up, leaning forward to put his hands on the bed head. 'Warn a man.'

Harry just smirked up at him, mouth around his cock, green eyes flashing and Draco felt a jolt of something more than lust flow through him. This was Harry. Harry was in his bed. Harry was swallowing him down. Wearing his collar. Looking at him like he was the only one in the world.

Draco had to close his eyes. He couldn't deal with the intensity of Harry's gaze - with the words that wanted to spring to his lips - the words it was far too early to say. He leaned his head back, groaning as Harry's strong hands dug into his arse, pulling him forward as that wet, perfect heat licked up and down his shaft.

'Fuck,' he gasped again as Harry's tongue swirled around the head of his cock, licking at him, tonguing against his slit and licking his foreskin down.

'Have you ever done this before?' Draco asked, looking down at Harry again. Harry had his eyes closed, as if he was thinking of nothing more than what he was doing to Draco. He opened them at Draco's words and shook his head, his mouth not leaving Draco's cock.

Draco reached down to cup Harry's cheek and Harry moved slightly, opening his mouth wider so the head of Draco's cock pushed against his palm. He pushed his fingers against Harry's cheek, moaning lightly at the sensation.

'You're a tease,' he said, surprise colouring his tone.

Harry raised his eyebrows, the look in his eyes sharpening, as he pulled back, letting Draco's cock bob out of his mouth, wet and aching.

'Tease?' he asked, pushing at Draco's hips. 'Flip over and I'll show you a tease.' He swallowed heavily, licking at his lips. 'I still haven't forgotten what it felt like that time you did it to me.'

'Did what -' Draco began, but Harry was already pushing at his hips, turning him to the side and then backwards, until he was looking down at the foot of the bed, legs spread either side of Harry's chest.

It was only a second later before Draco's question was answered as he felt his arse cheeks spread and then Harry's tongue was on him.

Draco gasped as the air left his lungs in a rush. Harry's tongue licked over him in broad, firm strokes. Draco couldn't help but push back into him. He'd seen it done, many times. Had even done it himself, that once, with Harry. But he'd never let someone -

'Fuck,' he breathed as Harry's strokes slowed and softened and he felt a kiss against his skin. Harry's hands were on his arse still, spreading him. Draco looked back over his shoulder and the look of … worship on Harry's face was almost enough to send him over the edge.

Harry licked at him again and Draco had to stop watching him. He gripped his own cock hard, trying to stop his orgasm from gathering, as Harry's strokes got more deliberate, and he began to work his tongue around Draco's hole. It was as Harry's tongue pushed at him, seeking entry, that Draco finally looked down.

Harry's cock was right there in front of him, hard and leaking, bobbing as he moved his hips, his legs writhing slightly on the bed, lost in the pleasure of what he was doing.

Draco leaned forward, bracing one hand beside Harry's hip and leaning back, pushing his arse into Harry's face. Harry moaned loudly and his effort renewed. It was as his tongue breached Draco's hole that Draco took Harry's cock in his fist, leaning forward to swallow him down.

They both moaned at the same time. Harry at the unexpected pleasure and Draco at the fact that he was finally tasting Harry - finally feeling him in his mouth.

He'd never done this before either, but from Harry's enthusiastic response behind him and the way his hips were making little aborted jerks, as though he couldn't quite help himself, Draco felt confident he'd got it right.

He sucked back on Harry's cock, feeling the hot hardness of it in his mouth and in his hand. One of Harry's hands worked its way between them and suddenly Draco was making the same hip jerks as Harry's tongue entered his arse again and again.

Draco sucked up and down Harry's cock as he rolled his hips, trying to simultaneously press back against the tongue in him and fuck forward into the hand around him.

Harry was moaning almost constantly now, muffled noises of pleasure Draco didn't think he knew he was making.

Draco sucked harder, swirling his tongue and Harry's hips jerked again.

Draco tried to push through the overwhelming pleasure Harry was giving him, enough to think, to make sure Harry was getting what he wanted too.

Harry was messy now, kissing and licking at his arse as though he couldn't get enough of it and Draco found himself gasping for breath, moaning around Harry's cock. Then he had an idea, and he scraped his teeth lightly up Harry's length.

Harry hissed, gasping out a moan and Draco stilled.

'Again,' Harry slurred and Draco grinned around his cock, scraping his teeth again before biting down lightly.

'Fuck,' Harry gasped, his movement on Draco's cock slowing. Draco pulled back slightly, blowing on the sensitive head, Harry's foreskin fully retracted, watching how he jerked and shuddered. Then he leaned in, enclosing Harry in the heat of his mouth.

Harry gave a slow jerk of Draco's cock which stopped as Draco let Harry feel his teeth again.

Draco pulled off, sitting up and looking back over his shoulder at Harry with a grin that he knew was just on the edge of the schoolboy sneer he used to wear.

'I thought you were supposed to be teasing me, Potter,' he said, raising an eyebrow.

The look on Harry's face was dazed and he nodded, biting his lip, then his mouth quirked into a smile and he sat up suddenly, tipping Draco onto the bed between his legs and manhandling him until he was on his back. Draco didn't have a moment to think before Harry's mouth was around his cock again, the suction hard and fast now, Harry's hand on him as well.

Draco pushed himself up, leaning back on his hands and groaning at the feeling - at the sight - of Harry working him, but it was when he noticed Harry's other hand underneath himself, gripping his own cock that he nearly came.

'Hands on me,' Draco said, voice raw.

Harry's eyes flashed but he obeyed, gripping Draco's leg as he continued to lick and suck at him, grinding against the bed as he chased his own release.

'You can come like this, can't you, Harry?' Draco said, not missing the way Harry shivered at his words, eyes closing for a moment as his movements slowed.

'Just from knowing how good you're - fuck - making me feel?' Draco panted.

Harry groaned in response, the sound sending vibrations through Draco's cock and making him jerk his hips, pressing into Harry's mouth.

Harry moaned again, his hips jerking against the bed as his hand and mouth began working faster on Draco.

Draco could feel his orgasm building again, just from watching the way Harry was losing himself in the pleasure.

'Gods, you look amazing,' he said, tangling his fingers in Harry's hair and feeling the way he was working back and forth.

'That's it, love,' he groaned.

Harry's hips jerked once, hard into the bed as he ground forward at Draco's words, and then his hands and mouth went slack and he moaned as he began to come.

'Fuck, Harry,' Draco said, hand still on Harry's hair as he pushed his cock forward, once, twice. 'You're so fucking hot.'

He pulled Harry's head back and replaced Harry's fist with his own as he began to strip his cock fast, slicking over the wetness Harry had left on him. Thirty seconds later he was coming all over Harry's bared throat, crying out as he painted stripes over Harry's neck and collar.

Draco let his hand fall to the bed as he looked at Harry, stretched out across the covers, leaning on his elbows, covered in Draco's come.

Then Harry grinned and very deliberately swiped a finger over his neck, bringing it to his mouth and sucking it.

Draco felt heat roar through him. He groaned and leaned down, capturing Harry's mouth in a kiss that tasted of the both of them.

'You're going to ruin me, Potter,' he murmured, further words lost as Harry drew them both back up the bed.

-----

Three hours later Harry was waiting at the park. He'd taken the collar off when he left Draco's and he could feel his magic dancing over his skin, wanting to play in the wind. He tamped it down, wishing he could find a way to lower the strength of it, instead of cutting it off altogether, the way the collar did.

He clutched a bag in one hand as he looked around, trying to spot the familiar blond heads. It was a warm day and there were quite a few people around on the playground and under the shade of the large oaks dotted around the place. But he couldn't see anyone he knew.

Harry could feel nerves fluttering through him and he tried to ignore them. He was being ridiculous. He was meeting a five year old, not going up in front of the Wizengamot.

But you want him to like you still, his inner voice whispered. You disappeared from his life for three months without a reason. Harry huffed, shifting from foot to foot. He'd been ecstatic when Draco had suggested after their shower - and a slow, sweet fucking between his closed thighs that still tingled through him - that maybe the three of them could have lunch in the park, if Harry wanted to.

A flash of pale hair broke him out of his reverie and Harry turned to see Draco and Scorpius walking towards him, Scorpius pulling at Draco's hand and pointing at everything as he talked in a continuous stream. The boy was wearing shorts and a t-shirt that had a unicorn with a colourful mane on it. Draco wore jeans and a tight black t-shirt that dipped slightly at the neck. Harry's mouth went dry looking at him.

Then Scorpius looked up and saw Harry standing at the edge of the path ahead. He abruptly went quiet, letting Draco's arm go slack as he stepped in closer to his father.

Draco glanced down at him and then took the last few steps forward until they were standing opposite Harry, then he knelt down, putting his arm around Scorpius' waist.

'You remember Harry, don't you?' he asked.

Scorpius' grey eyes flicked up to Harry and then away, but he nodded.

Harry felt something clench in his chest and he knelt as well.

'Hi Scorpius,' he said. 'I've missed you. Sorry I haven't been around for a while. Your dad told me you're getting good at flying that Slipstream of yours?'

Scorpius' eyes lit up and he nodded more eagerly. 'I can fly faster than papa,' he said, voice quiet still as he leaned in to Draco.

'I bet you can,' Harry said, trying to stop the grin from breaking across his face at Draco's soft snort.

'Maybe you and I can have a race some time, what do you recon?'

Scorpius seemed to consider that for a moment but then he smiled. 'Okay. What do you have in that bag?'

'Chut, mon chéri. Sois sage,' Draco said quietly and Scorpius glanced up at him, biting his lip as he eyed the bag.

'It's fine,' Harry said, smiling at the boy, 'I brought it for you. It's food for the ducks.'

'Bread?' Scorpius asked, leaning in to take a look in the bag Harry held open.

Harry shook his head. 'No, bread is no good for them. It's corn and lettuce and seeds. Things they could find if they were walking around looking for their own food.'

Harry stopped, as though struck by an idea. 'Unless,' he said, looking at the boy, 'do you think ducks can bake bread?'

Scorpius giggled, shaking his head. 'Noooo,' he said. 'They don't have hands.'

'Hmm,' Harry said. 'I think you're right. We'll just have to give them what's in this bag. What do you think?'

Scorpius nodded and reached for Draco's hand, tugging him to his feet.

'Come feed the ducks with me, papa,' he said.

Draco smiled at Harry, who climbed to his feet as well, moving to walk at Draco's shoulder, their arms brushing together. 'You're good at this,' Draco murmured, and Harry felt the ghost of what could have been run through him.

'I hope I would have been a good dad,' he said quietly. 'I've thought about my own dad so much, over my life. I like to think he would have been good at it as well.'

Draco didn't respond, but he twined his fingers through Harry's as they moved down to the water.

When they got there, Scorpius immediately turned to Harry.

'Can I have some duck food, please?' he asked. 'I want to feed that big one with the green head. He looks like your eyes do,' he said, looking up at Harry.

Harry glanced over at Draco to see him stifling a smile.

'We could call that duck Harry,' Draco said. 'Maybe he'll follow us home?'

Harry 'accidentally' elbowed Draco in the side as he leaned down to let Scorpius reach into the bag and bring out something for the ducks.

'He looks like a very handsome duck,' Harry said, with a sideways smirk at Draco as he took a handful of the corn and lettuce himself. 'Smart, too.'

The five ducks on the water seemed to realise all of a sudden what was happening and paddled immediately to where the three of them were standing.

The Harry duck scrambled up the bank first, almost reaching the top before another came up behind him, jostling him. He tumbled backwards into the water, flapping his wings and spraying droplets everywhere.

Draco laughed out loud. 'So graceful, Potter. Such an intelligent duck.'

Harry gave him a mock glare, which just made Draco laugh harder and after a few moments Harry couldn't do anything but stare at him. He didn't think he'd ever seen Draco so carefree - just so openly happy.

Scorpius was giggling too, throwing some lettuce to 'Harry' in the water, who was ruffling his wings and preening himself, before paddling forward to scoop up the food.

Draco was still huffing occasionally, a smile across his face he couldn't seem to get rid of, when they sat on the grass a few metres back from the edge, watching as Scorpius chatted away to the ducks as he fed them one corn kernel at a time.

Harry was surprised to see how calm the boy was with the creatures crowding around him, but then he realised none of them were coming closer than an arm's length away.

'Did you shield your son?' he asked Draco with a raised eyebrow.

It was Draco's turn to mock scowl. 'I couldn't bloody well have ducks eating him, could I?'

Harry laughed. 'That's magic use in a Muggle area,' he said, affecting a serious tone. 'And in front of the Head Auror, no less.'

Draco leaned in close, murmuring in Harry's ear. 'I'm pretty sure I can convince the Head Auror to let me off with a warning,' he said, voice low as his lip grazed Harry's ear. Harry huffed out a breath, heat suddenly curling through him. He felt his magic rush through him, surging to the surface as though it wanted to join with Draco's and make them both feel good. He wrestled it back down.

Draco sat back, not acting on his words, and Harry tried not to feel disappointed. Everything was still so new between them, and he felt like he couldn't get enough of Draco.

Harry looked at him, hair shining in the sunlight, body long and graceful as he stretched his legs out in front of him.

'The trial is next week,' Draco said suddenly. He was watching Scorpius, a deliberate casualness to his posture that Harry could see straight through.

'How are you feeling about it?' Harry asked.

Draco shrugged, eyes flicking to him before he looked away again.

'My father needs to be jailed. Properly this time. He killed people.'

Harry hummed his agreement, knowing it wasn't that simple. 'Do - I can't be in the stand with you, but do you want me to support you at all, during it?' He knew what he was asking. Knew it was far to soon for the unspoken words. Do you want me to show the world that we're together? Are you ready for that?.

Draco turned his attention back to Harry, considering him for a moment, before he nodded once.

'I'd like that.'

-----

The lead-up to the trial passed quickly. Harry went back into the office on Monday, officially ending his leave. Javier had sent a terse reply to Harry's owl, and so the first thing he did, after he'd seen Mrs. Norris and thanked her for supporting Sue in his absence, was to head up to the DMLE office, let Javier's secretary know he only needed a minute, and knock on his door.

He'd thought a lot about his job during the last few months, using the tools Jayne had taught him to think through his stress points and identify the things he enjoyed and grew from.

When his boss looked up from his desk, his eyes widened slightly, then narrowed.

'Do you mind if I have a moment?' Harry asked. Javier's face became even more suspicious and Harry couldn't blame him. He could count the amount of times he'd entered this office voluntarily, let alone politely, on one hand. One of the things he'd recognised, in his reflections, was that, yes, Javier drove him up the wall, but that Harry himself probably hadn't been the easiest person to work with either.

Javier waved Harry to a chair and then sat back, crossing his arms.

Harry sat, taking a deep breath and trying to think about where he wanted to start.

'I've been doing a lot of thinking while I've been on leave,' he said. Javier watched him, unmoving, and Harry continued. 'I want to apologise for the times when I've been deliberately out of line or difficult to work with.'

Javier's eyes widened and his arms uncrossed slightly as he leaned forward.

'I want you to know that I've always had the best interests of my team at heart,' Harry paused, breathing deeply, and said the part that he hoped was true, ' and that I believe that is one of your considerations as well.'

'It is,' Javier acknowledged, after a long moment. He seemed to consider Harry, measuring him, then he spoke again.

'What happened at Malfoy Manor - you were expecting something like that, weren't you?'

Harry nodded after a moment. 'They always come back,' he said simply.

Javier nodded, watching Harry, as though he was a strange puzzle he couldn't quite figure out.

'You've been cleared for duty,' he said instead. Harry bent his head in acknowledgement. 'Do you have any concerns about that clearance?' Javier asked, and Harry's first inclination was to bristle at the question and tell Javier it was none of his business. For a moment he felt his magic spark, rushing to his defence and he had to bite his cheek to distract him enough to push it back down. Pulling his bosses office apart accidentally wasn't going to endear him. He took a breath, paused and reminded himself that he would ask any of his team exactly the same question.

'I don't,' he responded. 'I think I'm in a much stronger position to support my team and the DMLE as a whole than I ever have been,' he said instead. He paused, considering something he'd been tossing around, and deciding to float it.

'I was thinking, while I was away, about a few things I think are slowing us down and taking up resources. I think we can make cost and time efficiencies by changing some of the outdated processes and requirements.' He looked at Javier, but the man wasn't turning him away, or laughing at him.

Harry continued. 'I'd like to draft something and bring it to you to talk through.'

That same look was in Javier's eye, like Harry was some strange configuration of parts that he just couldn't put together in the correct order. Gods, I was a right shit, Harry thought.

'The reduction in Auror teams from four to two has been shelved,' Javier said, instead of responding to his suggestion.

'I know,' Harry replied. Sue had filled him in once the decision had been made.

'The Minister has decided the cost-cutting isn't required,' Javier continued.

Harry realised Javier thought he was only bothering to try and work with him to get the proposal pulled.

'I know,' Harry said. 'I still think these changes will reduce the admin burden on all of our teams, allowing more time for active duty, training, and civic engagement. I think we need to be proactive, rather than reactive. We could do with supporting some of the current reforms coming from the Law Office and the Reparation Society as well.'

Javier's face wore a look of open shock now. 'Indeed,' he said quietly.

Harry stood, reaching across the man's desk to offer his hand. Javier closed his mouth and then reached for Harry's hand, his grip firm.

'Thank you for your visit, Head Auror.'

-----

Harry spent the rest of the week connecting with his team and the caseload, and coming up to speed on trial prep. He had dinner with Draco and Scorpius twice, though he hadn’t stayed the night again. He made sure he left the office by six every night, leaving his files behind. Work was going well. His magic was the part he was having trouble with. It had been wilder since he'd let Draco collar him a few days before, as though it knew it had been locked away and wasn't happy with it.

He was doing more and more accidental magic lately. It seemed to be bleeding from him. Things changed colours or shapes as he walked past them. Plants bloomed … or died. He had to make a conscious effort at all times to monitor what his magic was doing and to keep it under control. It was exhausting, and he considered more than once just asking Draco to permanently collar him. But that wouldn't solve the problem. Without magic he couldn't get into Grimmauld Place, or the Ministry, let alone do any one of the thousand things that he relied on his magic for. Hermione had owled saying she was looking into a new idea and that she would be in touch soon. He hoped whatever it was would work.

By the time Friday, and the trial, rolled around, Harry both felt like he'd never left and like everything was different. He'd spoken to each of his senior staff and to Mrs. Norris about the changes he was planning to make. No one had objected. Jones, and surprisingly, Mrs. Norris herself, had been forthcoming with a number of suggestions that would make life easier for them all.

Rudolph Avery had been tried earlier in the month. The evidence against him was overwhelming. They had Muggle video footage of him entering the Sky Gardens and interacting with one of the Muggle victims. He had tested positive for polyjuice residue and the owners of the warehouse the bomb had been made in had positively identified him. He'd been given life in Azkaban. No parole.

Lucius Malfoy was a different matter. Avery had refused to testify against him. He was not directly implicated in any crimes and his lawyer was claiming the recording Harry had made of his capture in the Manor was doctored evidence, and that Lucius had been under Imperius and forced to say those things. Of course, he'd come up with those claims days after it would have been possible to test him for residue.

Harry looked over his notes again, clearing his mind and preparing for his goal; to get Lucius taken away - put somewhere he could never hurt his son or grandson again. Harry stood from his desk, taking his formal robes from the peg by the door and slipping them on. He did up the heavy buttons and smoothed the starched material. It stretched across his shoulders and he shrugged into the feel of it, knowing he would need all the armour he could get today. He spelled his window into a mirror for a moment and glanced into it. He'd shaved that morning. Even his boots were a highly polished black. He looked ready.

Jones and Sue joined him as he walked back through the bullpen. She would be testifying as well. She gave him a measured nod and they made their way to the lifts together, moving down the spiral staircase and towards the courts.

Harry was not surprised, as he entered, to see the court was packed. The full Wizengamot sat today, resplendent in their plum-coloured robes, the reporters' stand was overflowing and every seat in the viewing gallery was full. The courtroom was buzzing with noise.

Harry had eyes for just one person. He scanned the room, letting out a breath when he saw Draco sitting in the front row of the area off to the left reserved for civilian witnesses. He moved in that direction, waving Jones and Sue to their seats in the center of the room.

Draco was wearing crisp black formal robes and his hair was slicked back, almost like he'd used to wear it at school. The look on his face was cold and impassive but Harry knew he would be a riot of emotions inside. They'd been exchanging owls all week, going over Draco's testimony - what he should say, what he should leave out. Harry knew that despite everything, speaking against his father was going to be hard for him.

He was a few steps away when Draco's gaze flipped to him, eyes widening slightly. Harry saw a hint of relief in them and he stepped closer to the railing, leaning in to speak to Draco.

'How are you feeling?' he asked quietly, looking into his eyes.

'Fine,' Draco answered. Harry raised an eyebrow and Draco huffed.

'What do you want to know, Potter? That I feel like I'm going to vomit? Fine. I feel like shit and I just want this to be over.'

Harry wanted badly to be able to hold Draco, to let him know this was going to be alright.

'Can I give you a hug?' he asked, speaking before he'd even decided to.

Draco looked at him, grey eyes widening in surprise. His eyes flicked behind Harry, to the reporters and then up to the Wizengamot and around the room. He knew what Harry was asking. Can I make this official? Us?

A hint of a smile crossed Draco's lips and he nodded once.

Harry stepped closer to the railing and reached across it, pulling Draco to his feet. He put his arms around Draco's slim form, the railing digging into his thighs, pulling him close for just long enough that Draco returned the gesture, breathing a quick thank you in his ear. Harry knew it was for the contact itself, for the comfort, but also for the fact that Harry wanted the world to know.

Around the courtroom, whispers broke out and as Harry let go of Draco he heard the flash of bulbs going off. He ignored them.

'You'll be fine,' he said, cupping Draco's cheek with one hand as he rested their foreheads together for a moment. 'Just don't let anything he says get under your skin.'

Draco nodded and Harry let go of him, stepping back from the stand and turning towards the gallery in the center, where Ministry staff sat during proceedings.

Sue gave him an approving smile as he sat down and Jones elbowed him in the side, 'Nice one, boss.'

A moment later, the court quieted as a bell tolled, and everyone rose as the Chief Warlock, Myrcella Marchbanks, entered from a door behind her raised podium. Harry took a deep breath and focused on controlling his nerves and his magic. He couldn't afford to have it flare up now. Nothing could get in the way of getting this conviction. He didn't think he'd ever wanted one as badly.

Marchbanks sat and there was a rustle of clothing as everyone around her sat as well.

'Today we will hear the charges against Lucius Malfoy,' she said in a loud, clear voice. 'I will have order in my court throughout the entire proceedings. Anyone who violates this expectation will be removed immediately.' She looked around the cavernous courtroom with a hard gaze, seemingly satisfied when she saw no opposition.

'Bring in the accused,' she said, glancing at the side door below the Wizengamot benches.

It opened a moment later and there was a sudden hush as Lucius Malfoy was led through. A second later angry whispers broke out and there were mutterings around the room. Marchbanks let it go on for a second before she banged a gravel hard on the podium. The sound cut off immediately. Harry didn't look up at the noise. He was watching Draco, whose eyes were fixed unblinkingly on his father as he was led into the court.

Lucius was in dress robes, hair long and flowing over his shoulders. He looked around the court with his nose slightly in the air, as though he was bored by the proceedings. His eyes narrowed infinitesimally as they passed over Draco, but he didn't pause. Harry saw Draco's jaw clench, and he sent him silent strength.

Lucius was led to a table beside the raised platform in the middle of the room. He lowered himself to sit beside his lawyer, looking for all the world like he was there out of choice. Harry gritted his teeth, staring at the man's back, glad at least that Lucius was sitting far enough forward in the courtroom that he couldn't easily turn to look at Draco.

'We will hear opening statements,' Marchbanks said. The Ministry lawyer stood, stepping up onto the platform to address the Wizengamot, and the trial began.

Harry watched the proceedings with a razor eye, glancing at Draco occasionally to see how he was holding up. Draco's eyes were fixed on the back of his father's head, and Harry had to look away.

Sue passed him notes occasionally, reinforcing the things that Elders, the Ministry's prosecution lawyer, was saying.

When Elders was finished, Lucius' lawyer stood. Harry recognised him from the questioning they'd brought him in for during the case - his name was Gregory Giles, and he was a slippery bastard. Harry had been singularly unsurprised to find he was the Malfoy family lawyer.

His opening statement was simple.

'My client is an old man who has been incarcerated for the past twelve years. He was been cut off completely from society, alone since he lost his wife three years ago. He had not the means nor the access to be a part of any of these crimes. He was duped by a young radicalised man who entered his life to provide the companionship and comfort Mr. Malfoy's own son denied him.' Harry's gaze shot to Draco, whose expression darkened before he forced himself back to calm.

'The defence will argue today that Mr Malfoy's son,' and here Giles turned to fix Draco with a disparaging look, 'fabricated all of the evidence against him so as to claim his father's property and fortune.'

Harry felt sick as the words washed over him. This was not the line of attack he'd been anticipating. To know that this was going to be a fight pitting Draco against his father was far worse than he'd thought. Lucius was throwing his son under the bus, and Harry had never hated him more than at that moment.

Elders returned to the stand and began to lay out the series of events, the crimes that had been committed and the charges being brought against Lucius.

Harry was brought to the stand a number of times to verify evidence and account for procedure. He kept his tone calm and professional, laying the events out clearly and concisely, his notes almost burned into his brain.

Giles' cross-examination was a savage thing, pointing at Harry's leave of absence, his divorce and the fact that he had authorised Draco's arrest and interrogation. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see Lucius watching him. He ignored him. Ignored everything Giles was saying. Refused to let it under his skin. Once he wouldn't have been able to. Once he would have shouted back, cursed the slimy git.

But now, he focused on his breathing, focused on thoughts of Draco, and let Elders call his objections.

Giles had a disgruntled look on his face when he indicated Harry should step down. Harry felt a brief glow of satisfaction at knowing he hadn't risen to the baits Giles had clearly been dangling for him.

The next to be called to the stand was Draco. He didn't look at Harry as he walked past, but he did glance at Lucius as he climbed the step to the stand. Harry could see Lucius' face as he turned to watch Draco. The smile on his face was knowing, and Harry couldn't help the feeling of disquiet it stirred.

Giles stepped forward.

'Do you agree to be dosed with Veritaserum?' he asked Draco immediately. Draco's hands jerked into a quick fist before he forced himself to relax.

There was a shocked whisper around the courtroom at the words. Harry had pushed to his feet before he realised, but Elders' voice rose above the noise. 'Objection! No grounds.'

Giles turned to face the assembled Wizengamot members.

'Draco Malfoy is a former death eater. He has been tried for war crimes. He is the sole heir to his father's fortune and he is the cornerstone to the case against him. What guarantee does Mr Malfoy have if his son is able to lie with impunity?'

Harry's heart sank as he saw Marchbanks considering it, her eyes moving to Draco's still form. Finally she gave a single nod. Harry forced himself not to push his way up there, drag Draco from the stand and tell them all they could be damned. He forced himself to take a breath. Draco would be okay. He knew how to handle himself.

Harry clenched his fists, cursing the fact that Veritaserum couldn't legally be used on a defendant. It wasn't foolproof. A skilled liar could tell just the right kind of truths to get around it, so it had been banned from use as an interrogation tool to force a confession from a defendant on the stands. That didn't mean it wasn't still useful for analysing the motives of witnesses. Harry felt a brief pang at the times he had authorised that very process.

There was a pause as an Auror left the room, returning a few minutes later with a small vial full of clear liquid. Draco stepped down from the stand. Facing impassively ahead he opened his mouth and both lawyers watched as exactly one drop of Veritaserum was placed on his tongue.

He returned to the stand, still not looking at Harry. Harry felt his heart clench to watch him, and Sue leaned over to whisper, 'Relax, don't let them see you're rattled too. You don't want that lawyer making the connection between you two.'

Harry forced himself to breath and to unclench his fists.

Giles stepped forward and began.

'State your full name, the reason you are here and one embarrassing fact about yourself.'

Harry felt a flare of outrage at the attempt to undermine Draco's credibility, even though he knew a forced statement was a method of establishing the Veritaserum was working. Draco's shoulders stiffened but he was speaking before Giles had even finished.

'My name is Draco Lucius Malfoy. I - was asked to testify. And I - slept with a toy dragon until I was seventeen.'

There was a titter of derisive laughter around the court and Harry glared at Giles, loathing filling him. He forced himself to breathe again, looking back at Draco. He was doing exactly what Harry had hoped, picking through all the truths trying to force their way into his mouth and choosing the ones he wanted to share.

From the look that sharpened Giles' features, he knew it too.

'Will you share with the court your exact feelings about your father over the past five years?'

Harry saw Draco's fingers twitch and curl but then he was speaking. 'I hate him. I despise the way he thinks and the things he plans and the fact that he's filled with hatred. I don't want to spend time with him. I wanted to kill him when he kidnapped my -'

'That's enough,' Giles said, holding up a hand. 'Do you harbour any positive thoughts about your father?'

Draco glanced sideways at his father for a moment before he resumed staring stiffly ahead. His voice was cold and hard and this time only two words escaped. 'Not anymore.'

'And the Manor?' Giles continued. 'His fortune? How do you feel about that. Do you feel like it should rightly be yours?'

'Objection!' Elders cried. 'Leading the witness.'

'Denied,' Marchbanks said, voice implacable. 'Leading is acceptable while under Veritaserum. Mr. Malfoy can only answer in statements that are true.'

Giles smiled, and Harry was reminded of the sharks he'd seen at the aquarium, their eyes cold and hungry.

'Do you think your father's fortune should be yours?' he asked again, staring at Draco.

Draco's fingers clenched into fists. 'Yes,' he gritted out after a moment. Harry willed him to go on, to explain himself, but he stayed silent.

Giles smiled slowly, a look of triumph in his eyes.

'And your son, Mr. Malfoy, Scorpius. Would you do anything for him? To give him what was rightfully his?'

Harry's heart sank as Draco's voice came again, low with defeat.

'Yes.'

'No further questions,' Giles said, returning to his seat with a smug look. Harry wondered at that until he remembered they'd only administered one drop. Fifteen minutes. The bastard had questioned Draco for exactly the same length of time as the Veritaserum would affect him.

Elders stepped up to the stand.

'When did you begin to suspect your father's involvement in the Muggle killings?' he asked.

'I spoke to Auror Potter a few days after the first attack,' Draco replied, squaring his shoulders. Harry saw him take a deep breath and cheered him on silently. He felt strung tight with anxiety watching Draco. 'He indicated to me that there was a possibility the Muggle man driving the van hadn’t been acting alone, and he asked me to provide him a list of possible wizarding connections to an event like that.'

'And you thought of your father immediately?' Elders asked.

'Objection,' Giles called from his seat. 'Prosecutor needs to determine if witness is still under Veritaserum.'

Elders shot a glance at Giles that made it clear to Harry that he knew it had expired as well and was hoping to bypass that fact, then he looked back at Draco.

'Mr. Malfoy, are you still under the influence of Veritaserum?'

Draco shook his head slightly, then said, 'No.'

Harry's shoulders sagged, and he hoped Draco's testimony was strong enough to stand up to the doubt and motive Giles had implanted.

Draco didn't miss a beat throughout his questioning. He explained his concerns over his father's behaviour over a number of years, the reasons he'd reported those suspicions. He took the court through the information he'd uncovered in the letters in clear, simple steps, showing the links and the hidden meanings, in much the same way as he'd explained it to Harry.

Then, under Elders' prompting, he described the night of Scorpius' abduction, his terror at realising his son was gone. He recounted Avery's words that night, about how they would remove Draco to make way for Scorpius.

'And then I walked into the room,' Draco said, the edge of his anguish still in his voice, 'my old room, and he was there, like a spider in its web, hovering over my drugged and unconscious son.'

Harry felt his heart twist at the vulnerability in Draco's voice, at the heartache he was baring before all of these strangers, for a chance to make sure Scorpius could never be hurt again.

When Draco's testimony had concluded, they put Lucius on the stand. Harry figured it was late afternoon, but time moved strangely down in the courtrooms. He thought he should be feeling hungry, or tired, but he just felt on edge. It seemed the rest of the courtroom felt the same. Marchbanks didn't call for recess, instead she stared down at Lucius, as though analysing a particularly interesting insect.

'Proceed,' she said, and Harry wished again that they could just dose him up and ask him straight out if he planned the whole thing. But there was no way Marchbanks would allow such a flagrant challenge to the law in her courtroom.

Giles took Lucius through his testimony, clearly trying to establish him as a lonely old man who was no threat to anyone. Harry didn't buy it and looking around the courtroom, he didn't think many others did either. Lucius was just too cold, sitting straight-backed in his chair, nose in the air as though the lot of them were beneath him. Everything about him screamed a sense of smug superiority, as though this was just one more situation he would twist to his advantage and come out on top of.

Harry allowed himself to hope. Surely the court would see the truth of the case.

Elders' cross-examination was clearly based on his viewing of the record of Lucius' confession

'Do you believe Muggles are … dangerous?' he asked, an eyebrow cocked as though this was a reasonable question.

Harry could see Lucius's hands, wrapped lightly around the railing of the stand, twitch slightly at the questions.

'I read the Muggle newspapers,' Lucius said. 'Do you know what they are full of? Death. Killing. Rape. War. Terrorism. All they ever do is hurt each other. They're like rats in a sinking ship, tearing each other down in their struggle to survive.'

'Do you believe Muggles are dangerous to wizards?' Elders rephrased.

Lucius' head tilted to one side, his hair a shimmering curtain down his back.

'Do you know what else the Muggle newspapers are full of? Guns, and bombs. Do you know how easy it would be for any Muggle to pick up a gun and tear an unsuspecting wizard to pieces? Avada Kedavra is nothing before a "semi-automatic".'

'Just as easy as a Muggle climbing into a van and driving it into a bus full of wizards?' Elders asked, face shrewd.

'Indeed,' Lucius murmured.

Elders' examination of Lucius took almost an hour, but through it all he remained calm, turning questions back on the prosecutor again and again, his answers sounding reasonable until you stopped to think about them. Harry felt his agitation growing as he watched. Surely people wouldn't be drawn in by the show. Surely. But he remembered the last time Lucius had escaped justice, had reintegrated himself back into society after Voldemort's first defeat. He didn’t know what he would do if that happened again.

Once the closing statements had concluded, the Chief Warlock rose, and the entire room rose with her. She turned and stepped through the door behind her podium, each of the Wizengamot members filing into the middle of their stands to follow her through the same door.

As she left, there was another rustle of noise as everyone sat, a buzz of talk springing up around the room.

Harry looked across at Draco, but he was locked in a battle of wills with Lucius, who had turned in his seat to stare his son down. Harry could see the side of his face. His sneer.

He couldn't help himself. He crooked his finger and the leg of Lucius' chair wobbled and bent, throwing him back slightly before it straightened and hardened again. Lucius' head snapped around, seeking the perpetrator, but Harry was already looking at Draco again, his heart aching with the exhaustion he could see in the slight slump of Draco's shoulders, the way his hair was ruffled from his fingers running through it.

As soon as this case was tried, he would -

Harry's thoughts were cut off by the opening of the door in the stands above. Members of the Wizengamot filed back into their seats, staring impassively out at the gathered spectators. Harry looked at them in surprise, rising with the rest as Marchbanks re-entered the room. They'd come back so fast. It was unheard of for the Wizengamot to be prepared to cast a verdict so soon after the close of trial.

Marchbanks sat and the courtroom did with her. She folded her hands in front of her and looked down at Lucius, sitting beside his lawyer below.

He looked unaffected, but Harry could see his foot twitching slightly. Jiggling. Lucius was scared. He knew that such a quick decision-making process could only mean one thing. Complete exoneration, or life-long incarceration.

'The Wizengamot has heard the case brought against Lucius Abraxas Malfoy,' Marchbanks said, her voice carrying easily throughout the courtroom. Harry ripped his gaze up to her, his heart suddenly beating hard in his chest. They had to make the right call. They had to.

'And we have passed the following sentence: For the crime of Malicious intent to cause grievous bodily harm, we pronounce you guilty.'

Harry let out his breath in a rush as he sagged forward, relief flooding through him. He turned his head to see Draco, eyes closed, arms wrapped around himself as he drew in a shuddering breath.

Marchbanks was still speaking. 'Accessory to murder: Guilty.'

Harry watched Draco, impatient for the whole thing to be finished now. They needed to get out of here.

'Accessory to the use of deadly force: Guilty.'

Draco straightened up and opened his eyes, clearly forcing himself back under control. His eyes met Harry's and Harry saw the turmoil of emotions he was holding back. Then Draco turned his gaze to his father and Harry looked back at Lucius as well.

'Accessory to abduction of a minor: Guilty.'

Lucius was sitting straight-backed and proud, as though he were hearing the weather report, but under the table, Harry could see his fingers gripping hard into his leg.

'The sentence is life imprisonment in Azkaban,' Marchbanks finished. 'No parole.'

Suddenly Lucius' fingers went slack and the energy seemed to leave his body. He slumped forward. Giles turned to him, whispering urgently, but Lucius didn't respond.

Harry didn't spare him another glance.

Marchbanks rose from her seat and the courtroom rose with her.

'Can you finish the shift for me?' Harry asked Jones, his eyes on Draco, who was looking a little lost, as though he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. He barely waited for her affirmative before he was across the room, pulling Draco from his seat. Draco stepped over the rail, his movements slow, and Harry put an arm around his waist, guiding him from the courtroom before the crowd had a chance to filter down from the stands.

They made their way up the stairs quickly, Harry not saying anything and Draco seemingly lost in his own head. Harry guided him through the Ministry until they were at the Apparition point, then he pulled Draco close and Apparated them with a crack.

They landed in Harry's lounge room, and Harry wrapped both his arms around Draco, holding him close. Draco took one big, shuddering breath, and then another, and then he was crying, his arms coming up around Harry as he buried his face in Harry's neck, his tears soaking through the collar of his robes.

Harry pressed a kiss to Draco's hair and held him closer, trying to press his strength and his love into him. He rubbed a hand up and down Draco's back, letting him know he wasn't alone. Draco's body heaved with the force of his sobs and Harry felt his own chest twist in pain. He didn't want to see Draco hurting.

He let his arms loosen for just a second, just long enough to unbutton Draco's robes and slide them off his shoulders, then he slid out of his own Ministry robes and pulled Draco by the hand to the couch. He was still sniffing and hiccuping, wiping at his eyes as though ashamed of his outburst. Harry's lips quirked into a wry smile as he thought about how much worse a state Draco had seen him in.

He lay back on the couch and pulled Draco down beside him. Draco put his head on Harry's chest and his leg between Harry's, and Harry resumed his gentle stroking up and down Draco's back.

Draco's aching sobs had stopped now, but Harry could feel his t-shirt getting wet and could hear Draco's occasional sniffs. He just continued his gentle touch, content to have Draco in his arms and be able to offer him some form of comfort.

Finally Draco sat up slightly, and Harry held out his hand, a box of tissues flying into it. Draco rolled his eyes but took a few, wiping at his face.

'I don't know why I'm upset,' he said, voice thick. 'He's a bastard.'

Harry shrugged slightly and Draco laid his head on Harry's shoulder this time. He put his arm around Harry's chest and Harry pulled him closer, pressing a kiss to his hair.

'He's still your father,' he said. Draco huffed a bitter laugh but didn't say anything.

They lay in silence a while, Draco dabbing at his eyes occasionally. Harry looked down at him, a thought occurring.

'I'm not much of a singer,' Harry admitted with a smile. 'But I'll try if you want.'

Draco huffed a laugh into his neck and then pressed a kiss against his skin. 'Just this is nice,' he said, and Harry resumed the slow, soothing strokes against his back.

------

They were having breakfast together the next morning when the Floo flared to life and Hermione stepped through. She stopped at seeing Draco sitting at Harry's kitchen table, a knee drawn up on the chair, clearly dressed in a pair of Harry's old Auror Force joggers and Harpies t-shirt. Harry glanced across at him to see his response and took in Draco's appearance properly. His hair was mussed and he looked as though he'd just been shagged. Harry wondered what he looked like and shifted slightly, wincing at the ache up the backs of his legs as he did so.

'So the papers weren't overstating it, then?' she said archly. 'Good morning, Draco. What a pleasure to see you.'

'What papers?' Harry asked, offering his cheek for her peck as she moved over to the coffee machine.

'All of them,' Hermione said over her shoulder. 'They're running a dual front page. Seems no one can figure out whether Lucius Malfoy being incarcerated or speculation over whether Draco Malfoy is boffing the Chosen One should be the top story.'

She turned to face them, leaning against the counter and bringing her mug up to her lips, blowing lightly as she arched an eyebrow at them both.

'Stop enjoying it so much,' Harry muttered at her, groaning at the thought of the hordes of reporters he was going to have to start dodging again.

Hermione shrugged. 'I assume it's worth it?'

Harry looked over at Draco, sitting in his kitchen, eating a breakfast he'd cooked, and he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. He nodded and Draco rolled his eyes at Harry's sappiness, although Harry could see a pleased quirk to his lips.

'What are you doing here?' Harry asked, turning back to Hermione. 'I assume you didn't just come to tell me I'm all over the papers again?'

Hermione shook her head, moving forward to sit at the table, pulling some pieces of parchment from her pocket as she did.

'I've figured out what's going on with your magic. I had the owl back from Xenophilius yesterday.'

'Xenophilius?' Draco asked, and they both looked across at him.

'Lovegood,' Hermione said. 'He's been directing me to people who've done research around -' she flicked a glance at Harry who nodded, confirming he'd told Draco.

'He's directing me to people who've done research around the Deathly Hallows and the mythology surrounding the Master of Death.'

'What do you mean mythology?' Draco asked, looking at Harry. 'I thought you said that's what you were?' Harry realised as Draco spoke, that they'd not come back to the conversation since he'd blurted the information out the week before. He opened his mouth, but Hermione beat him to it.

'He is,' she confirmed. 'But we think he's the first. I've been working to track the Hallows through history, starting from the time of the Peverell brothers. As far as I can tell, the Hallows have never been mastered by the same person simultaneously until now.'

Draco's face was skeptical. 'How can you know that?'

Hermione leaned forward, her face lighting up. 'It's actually relatively simple. We know that the cloak has been in Harry's family line, passed down to the first-born of each generation since Ignotus Peverell. The Elder Wand is easy to follow through history if you know what to look for. At no point was it held by a descendant of Ignotus. The stone is harder to follow, but we can assume it's been held in Cadmus Peverell's family and eventually made its way into the Gaunt ring,' she shrugged. 'That's a simple cross-reference as well.'

Harry smiled at her, knowing there was nothing simple about what she'd just said. There was weeks of work in that research alone. She waved him off as if reading his thoughts. 'It’s nothing. The Librarian did most of it anyway. He has quite the interest in the Hallows, it turns out.'

Draco's gaze was back on Harry. 'So Harry is the first to become master of all three Hallows?' he confirmed, face troubled, and Hermione nodded, her own face becoming grave.

'What does that mean?' Draco asked.

'That's what I've been trying to establish,' Hermione said, gesturing at the papers she'd placed on the table. Draco scooped them up without a glance at Harry and began reading, his eyes flicking rapidly over the pages one by one.

'You're wearing the collar,' Hermione noted nonchalantly, the slight darkening to her cheeks giving away her embarrassment about the reasons Harry might do that.

Harry smiled at her, feeling the ache in his wrists and his arse, remembering the stinging blows down his thighs and the release he and Draco had both found from their turmoil of emotions the night before.

'It's helping?' she asked, not quite meeting his eyes.

Harry shrugged. 'Yes … and no.'

Hermione looked at him, confused.

'It helps while I'm wearing it, but the moment I take it off, it's like my magic has been building up behind it. It's almost impossible to hold back.'

At the sharp look of interest in Hermione's eyes, Harry rubbed Draco's leg under the table. Draco looked up from the papers and Harry indicated his collar. Draco stood and walked around the table to him, stopping in front of him and lifting his hands to the leather, caressing Harry's neck lightly as he did. Harry let his eyes fall closed, and then Draco's nimble fingers were working the buckle and the collar came loose from his neck.

He spared a moment to mourn the loss of the sensation of it pressing against his throat and then he had to focus on holding his magic tight. He could feel it spill over and out, hear Hermione's gasp as the kitchen rattled around them.

After a few moments it stopped and Harry opened his eyes to see the room was … off. It was a bright green. Harry's eyes flicked to Draco's and the slight smirk on Draco's face told Harry he realised it was the green Harry used when he gave consent for his forms.

The dishes on the sink had vanished and the tiny pot plant in the window was now shading half the room. The fire was flaring bright and hot.

Harry took a deep breath and concentrated, not on specific spells, but on the outcome he wanted - on changing everything back to normal.

After a moment the room began to shift, things reverting to the way they were.

'How long had you been wearing the collar?' Hermione asked, looking around the room, voice troubled.

'Since last night,' Harry answered. 'Less than twelve hours.'

Hermione frowned. 'So if you wore it for any length of time, when you took it off …'

'I could level a city block,' Harry agreed. Hermione flinched, but then seemed to gather herself.

'I thought about splitting the Hallows,' she said. 'To give mastery of them to other people.'

'I've been thinking about that too,' Harry said, 'And I don’t think it will work. I've given the cloak to other people before. Loads of times. It doesn't make a difference. I think it has to be passed down to my child - to my blood.' He swallowed dryly and saw Draco's eyes flick across to him.

'The resurrection stone is gone,' he said. 'It's lost in the forest and that's where it needs to stay.'

'And the Elder Wand is too dangerous to have back in circulation,' Hermione finished with a frown. Harry nodded.

'This,' Draco interrupted them, 'What you've written here, at the end, about time. You think this could work?'

Hermione looked startled for a moment, then she nodded slowly. 'It's just a concept, based on my conversations with Xenophilius and my research -'

Draco nodded. 'There are risks, though, with this sort of thing. That's why they're Unspeakables.'

Hermione considered him before nodding slowly. 'It’s still just an idea.'

Draco's eyes were back on the papers. 'It's a good one. It makes sense. So you just need to channel the connection.'

'Or sever it,' Hermione murmured, watching him.

Harry watched him as well, looking between them, no idea what they were discussing. Draco was flicking his thumb over his fingers, the way he did when he was deep in thought. Harry couldn't decide between letting him think and demanding answers.

Hermione rose from the table, placing her hand on Harry's arm. To Harry's surprise, Draco rose too. 'Can I come with you?' he asked. 'I mean - not to your house, but to the archives, to wherever you've been researching? I need to find a few things, and the Manor -'

Draco frowned, and Harry knew he was thinking of how the Ministry had seized the entire estate. Draco hadn't been upset about the loss of the building, per se. In fact he'd even advocated for it to be rehabilitated and turned into the base for the new Magical-Muggle Education Reform headquarters, eventually to become a school.

No, it was the loss of the Manor's contents that bothered him. He'd been denied access to the Malfoy libraries while his father had lived there, and now the Ministry was blocking him too. Harry had tried to inquire, but he'd been told Draco couldn't look at the books until they'd all been catalogued and verified to ensure none contained dark or dangerous magic. Harry had been ready to take the matter further, but Draco had told him to save his energy.

'You're welcome to come with me,' Hermione said. 'I was going into work for a few hours anyway. I'll meet you at the Ministry in thirty minutes?' She looked him up and down, a faint grin on her face. 'Once you've had a chance to … freshen up.'

'What?' Draco asked distractedly, gaze on the papers in his hand again. 'Yes, of course.'

He bent down to place a brief kiss on Harry's hair as he walked from the room.

Hermione was left looking at Harry, amused fondness on her face.

'That was … not at all what I expected to find when I came here today.'

Harry smiled at her. 'He's nothing like I would have expected either.'

-----

It was another two days before he saw Draco or Hermione again. He'd got an owl from each of them so similar that he figured they were holed up somewhere together. He would have been concerned, except he figured that if anyone could sort out what was happening with his magic, they could.

Towards the end of his mid-week shift, Hermione appeared in his office doorway. Harry looked up, surprised. She almost never came to see him.

'We want to try something,' she said, not bothering with a greeting. 'Come down to level nine when you're done here.'

'The Department of Mysteries?' Harry asked, wanting to make sure he'd got it right.

Hermione nodded.

'I haven't been inside that room since …'

Hermione looked sympathetic. 'Me neither. But I started visiting them a few weeks ago, telling them I was researching, and -' she shrugged. 'It's not so bad in the daytime.'

Harry sighed and pushed to his feet. 'May as well get it over with,' he said. 'This is what you and Draco were discussing the other day, isn't it? About time?'

Hermione glanced at him and nodded, but didn't say anything more until they were in the lift, descending to level nine.

'It's not the Hallows that are the problem,' Hermione said, casting a Muffliato around them. 'You've been the Master of the Hallows for years, but you've never actively drawn on their power. They've been dormant, right?'

Harry nodded.

'I spoke to Xenophilius, and asked him to check with his contacts about whether there was any reference to the Hallows creating more powerful magic in the wielder. There's not, aside from the Elder wand. That was what made me think, maybe it's not the Hallows that are causing your magic to grow like this.'

The lift pinged open and they stepped out, Hermione striding down the corridor towards the door at the end. Harry shivered slightly. He always turned straight for the stairs when he got out of the lift. He didn't even like to look down the corridor that had haunted his dreams for so long. The corridor that had led to a series of mistakes, ending in Sirius' death.

Harry swallowed heavily and followed Hermione. She cast a charm at the door at the end, opening it, and he stepped through behind her.

They were in the circular room again, and the walls were covered in doors.

'Try not to look,' Hermione advised, sensing his nervousness.

Harry nodded and as the doors began to spin he watched her. Hermione waved her wand through the air, and a sideways figure eight glowed in the air for a moment before sweeping across the room to attach itself to one of the doors.

When they all stopped spinning she walked towards it.

'The time room?' Harry asked.

Hermione nodded.

'Did they ever fix the damage we did?' he asked.

Hermione hesitated. 'Kind of. That's part of why they're so interested to meet you.'

She opened the door with the glowing infinity symbol on it and they stepped through. It looked just like Harry remembered. The walls were covered in ticking clocks of all shapes and sizes, and light danced among them, flexing and reflecting.

Harry looked across at the wall where all the Time-Turners had been, but it was blank. There were no Time-Turners, no shelf. The wall had been left bare, as though it was waiting for something.

Harry looked around as Draco walked towards him, smiling. Beside him was a small, wiry woman with frizzy red hair.

'This is Maggie,' Draco said, gesturing her forward.

'Not my real name, of course,' Maggie said, barking a laugh. 'Have to kill you for that one. Ha!'

Then she cocked her head on one side. 'I wonder what would happen if you were to die,' she said, stepping closer and looking at him curiously. She looked across at Hermione. 'Do you think the loop would dissipate, or would it rewind itself as a preservation instinct?'

Maggie's hand drifted towards her wand seemingly unconsciously as she spoke and Draco had to clear his throat twice before she snapped herself out of it.

'Ha! Yes, well, interesting as that would be, not what we're here for, is it?'

Harry looked at the three of them, confusion mounting in him. 'What exactly are we here for?'

'I came up with the idea,' Hermione said, 'But Draco was the one who figured out how to make it work.'

'What idea, Hermione?' Harry asked, beginning to get exasperated.

'You've embedded yourself in the flow of time,' Draco said, with a roll of his eyes at the other two. 'We think when you stopped the bomb at the New Years party, you drew on your power and the power of the Hallows to force yourself into contact with time. Instead of it being a one-off, you did it again when you saved me. You must have deliberately anchored yourself in the time stream somehow.'

Harry shook his head, not understanding.

'It's why your magic is fluctuating so badly,' Hermione said. 'You're drawing excess energy constantly, from the life of everything around you. When it bursts out of you, it's changing things back and forward in time. A plant grows, a wall reverts to a previous colour, a brick becomes clay.'

Harry frowned. 'So the Hallows aren't the problem?'

Draco shook his head while Hermione shrugged. Maggie just looked at him like he was an interesting experiment.

'You've lived with the Hallows for years with no issues,' Draco said. 'If we can unlink you from time, you should be fine, provided you don't draw on their power again.'

Harry let out a deep breath. 'Okay, so what does 'unlinking' me look like?' he asked, eyeing the three of them.

'That's the idea Draco had,' Hermione said. 'Quite a good one actually.'

Draco rolled his eyes at her. 'Yes, well, I was a very close second to you in school, remember.'

He gestured to a golden sphere on the table to their right and Harry recognised it immediately. It was a Time-Turner, far larger and more ornamental than the one Hermione had used in school.

'Where did you get that?' he asked. 'I thought they were all destroyed.'

Draco hummed noncommittally. 'It was among my father's possessions. He always did like shiny things. Maggie's team managed to get hold of it and we duplicated it,' he said, gesturing at a row of them on the wall that Harry hadn't noticed when he walked in, 'just in case we need to repeat this. They haven't been activated, though,' he said, looking at Harry with serious eyes. 'There's no time in them.'

'That's where you come in,' Maggie said, stepping forward, a wide grin on her face.

Harry had to stop himself from taking a step back.

'What exactly does 'unlinking' me look like?' he said again, looking between the three of them.

'It's not dangerous,' Hermione said.

'It's not totally risk-free,' Draco argued.

'It's fine,' Maggie said. 'There's books about how to do this. Timekeepers used to harvest time all over the place, back in the beginning. Before we lost the ability to trap it.' She was eyeing Harry with a hungry look.

Draco stepped up to Harry's side, putting a hand on his arm. 'It will only be an issue if you fight against it. Basically, Maggie will use a spell to pull the excess energy from the time continuum out of you and into the turner.'

'And then I'll be fixed?' Harry asked.

Draco hesitated. 'We're not sure. We don't know how you connected yourself to time in the first place. This might sever that connection, or it might not. You may have to come back here every few months and drain the magic off again.'

Harry let out a sigh, looking at the three of them, then at the device that was now in Maggie's hands.

'You think this is the right choice?' he asked Hermione and she nodded, her eyes clear and certain.

'Right,' he said. 'Fine. Should I sit down or someth-'

Maggie began casting before he'd even finished speaking, her wand moving in intricate patterns that glowed silver in the air, flying from her wand to swirl around him.

Draco squeezed Harry's arm for a moment before he stepped back. The glowing symbols continued to surround Harry. The ticking of the clocks all around the room seemed to increase in volume, until it was all he could hear.

The symbols glowed more brightly, until they were all he could see.

He could feel his magic rising to the surface, as if drawn to them, and he forced himself to relax, to let it. Draco had said this would be safe as long as he didn't fight it. He trusted Draco.

The magic leapt from his fingertips, a spark of it joining one of the intricate shapes. There was the toll of a bell, louder than all of the ticking and then his magic was pouring from him. A stream, a torrent, a flood. He couldn't control it and he didn't try. He let the excess flow from him gladly, spreading his fingers wide and squinting as he watched the symbols glow brighter and brighter.

Finally it slowed, and he felt his own magic, deep within, resisting the pull, clinging to him, while what didn't belong slid away. Harry let the last of it go and then closed his fists. The moment he did, all the clocks stopped ticking and a shockwave of force echoed through the room. The symbols vanished in an instant and Harry was left standing, looking at the three awestruck people facing him. Even Maggie looked stunned.

Draco rushed forward a moment later, cupping Harry's cheek and looking into his eyes.

'How do you feel?' he asked, face full of concern.

Harry thought for a moment, taking an internal catalogue. He felt settled, at home in his own skin in a way he hadn't been for far too long.

'I feel good,' he said with a grin. 'I think it worked.'

Draco snorted in disbelief. 'Harry fucking Potter,' he said, shaking his head. 'Only you could walk around with the power of a sun inside you and hold yourself together.'

Harry looked at him and then his eyes widened as he caught sight of the glowing golden orb in Maggie's hands and the other dozen on the wall behind them, all growing similarly bright.

'Harry,' Hermione said, her voice shaky and small. 'Just one of those holds fifty times as much power as the time turner I had access to at Hogwarts …' her voice trailed off and then she rushed forward, hugging him tightly.

'You stupid, stubborn man,' she said into his neck, her voice muffled. He felt the wetness of her tears against his skin and brought up his arms to hold her close, resting his cheek on her hair.

He watched Draco over Hermione's head. Draco just shook his head, a rueful grin hovering on his lips. 'Fall in love with Harry Potter, they said.'

Harry felt his heart leap at the words, and he thought the grin he gave Draco in return might just outshine the glow of time all around them.

----

Two months later

'Go,' Pansy said, pushing at Draco. 'I'll take Scorpius through the Floo like a normal person and you can ride that sexy death wish with your boyfriend.'

'I do not want to ride Potter's motorcycle,' Draco said, glaring at her.

'Is that so?' Harry said, rubbing a towel over his hair and watching the two of them bicker with a smile on his face. 'Because I distinctly remember, the last time we went for a ride on it, that you had your hands down my pants before I'd even landed it. And the moment I had it in the garage, you bent m-'

'Yes,' Draco interrupted loudly over the top of Pansy's snort. 'Well, a man can't be blamed for his reaction to a life or death situation.'

Harry just hummed. 'So is that a no, then? Do I have to go to my birthday party - my thirtieth birthday party - all alone?'

Draco huffed at him and Harry's grin broadened. 'Well if you're going to insist, then I suppose I could.'

'Great,' Harry said standing up and throwing the towel in the direction of Draco's hamper. Pansy rolled her eyes at the two of them. 'I'll finish getting your son ready, will I Draco?'

Draco waved his hand at her, not taking his eyes off Harry and she left, muttering under her breath.

'Do you want to wear my leather jacket again?' Harry asked, turning his attention back to Draco.

Draco mumbled something and Harry stepped closer.

'Sorry, I didn't quite catch that,' he said, leaning in so his ear was close to Draco's mouth. Draco smelled delicious, a hint of citrus tang underneath the various creams and potions Harry now knew he used. Draco's bathroom routine took close to an hour on a bad day.

'I said,' Draco growled in his ear, hands coming up to cup Harry's arse and pull him in closer. 'The jacket looks better on you.'

Harry groaned and arched into Draco's touch. Draco's mouth moved to Harry's neck and he bit lightly. Harry tilted his head to one side to give him better access and Draco nosed at the skin there, nudging aside the thin strip of leather Harry wore constantly. The one he'd found in Draco's bedside drawer when he was looking for lube. The one he'd thrown at Draco's feet all those months ago.

Harry rolled his hips against Draco's slowly and groaned again. Draco bit him in response, teeth sinking into the sensitive spot where the muscle traveled down to his shoulder. Draco drew back, licking softly over the spot before pushing Harry away.

Harry tried not to pout with disappointment, but Draco's raised eyebrows showed him he'd failed.

'Hurry up and finish getting ready,' Draco said. 'It will take us at least an hour to get there on that contraption. And the party starts in fifteen minutes.'

Harry just laughed. 'It's the Burrow. There'll be people everywhere. No one is going to notice whether I've arrived on time, trust me.'

Draco frowned, fussing at his sleeves again. He was wearing dark trousers and a light blue shirt. He'd rolled the cuffs up twice and then rolled them back down.

'Leave it,' Harry said, stepping closer again and stilling his movement. 'It's fine. Everyone there knows you. They know you're with me and that you're a good person. A bit of old ink on your arm makes no difference to that.'

Draco frowned at him. 'Yes, but -'

'No buts. Molly and Arthur were perfectly nice to you when we had them for dinner last month and you had your mark showing then too. It's fine. Let's go and have a good time, okay?'

Draco nodded, dropping his hands, and Harry grabbed an elastic band from the dresser. He twisted his still-damp hair into a loose bun and reached for Draco's hand.

'Let's go, we're going to be late.'

Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry and then delivered a stinging smack to Harry's arse that had him yelping and then swaying back into Draco's space, heat rushing through him.

Draco shook his head, a smirk on his lips as he pointed at the door. Harry huffed a sigh.

'Tonight?' he asked, aware there was a plaintive note in his voice. But he couldn't be expected to fight that. It had been three days. Three days since Draco had let him orgasm. Sure, they'd done other things in that time but -

'Maybe,' Draco said, his smirk deepening, 'If you're good.'

Harry scowled at him and left the room, collecting his jacket from the arm of the chair as he called out to Scorp that he would see him soon. He got back an excited. 'For your party, Harry! I'll be there.'

Harry smiled as he made his way down to the street where his bike was disillusioned in front of Draco's flat. Draco followed him a moment later, climbing on behind him with an eagerness that belied his protests. Harry bit his tongue, stopping the teasing that came to his lips. He knew he'd made the right choice a moment later when Draco slid tight against him, legs wrapping around him and one hand slipping inside his jacket to rub lightly over his nipple through his t-shirt.

Harry fought the urge to groan as he fired the bike up, kicking the stand and sending it rumbling into the street. He rode slowly, obeying the city speed limits and enjoying the way the huge machine rumbled between his thighs and how Draco felt pressed against his back. Draco's hands moved over him slowly, not in any deliberate attempt to get him worked up, just in a leisurely exploration that was somehow far more arousing. He loved how well Draco knew his body now.

Once they were clear of the city Harry gunned the engine, opening the throttle and enjoying the feeling of the wind whipping against him. Draco always complained that it ruined his hair, but Harry had the sneaking suspicion it reminded him of flying and that he really didn't mind at all. Harry glanced around them, seeing no traffic and then hit the disillusionment charm. The air turned slightly hazy around them and Harry grinned in anticipation.

'Ready?' he yelled over his shoulder.

In answer Draco's hands dropped to Harry's hips and he felt a hard length press momentarily against his arse.

He didn't let it distract him. He knew he'd only get what he wanted when Draco was ready to give it to him. Instead he pulled back the throttle hard and fast, peeling the bike up onto its back wheel in one smooth motion, from there he nudged the charm with his heel and the bike flew smoothly into the sky.

Harry couldn't help the whoop of joy that rose in his throat as they left the ground behind, rising far above the treetops. Behind him he heard Draco's soft chuckle and he pushed them faster, enjoying the feeling of being up here, with just Draco and no one else around them.

His party would be good, he knew. His whole family was coming. Charlie had even come back from Romania, and Sue, Jones and a few from work were coming. Nev, Luna and some of the others from the annual Hogwarts get-together would be there. It would be good. An occasion to celebrate. The start of something new.

But mostly Harry was just happy where he was right now, flying through the sky with Draco close behind him, as though no one else existed.

The flight felt a lot shorter than it was, and it was too soon before Harry was descending to the ground, pulling them into a hard dive and a spinning stop that had Draco slapping him lightly on the side and several party-goers whooping in approval.

Harry kicked the stand down and Draco slid off the bike, patting at his hair and straightening his shirt.

'You look brilliant,' Harry said, leaning in for a kiss, unable to help himself. Draco's face was glowing from the wind and the excitement of the ride. The way his hair was tangled reminded Harry of nothing so much as how it looked after sex.

Draco sniffed, looking him up and down with eyes that lingered too long to be anything but appreciative. 'Yes, well you look like a bird flew into your hair and took up residence,' he said, reaching across to tuck a curl behind Harry's ear. Harry grinned at him, turning his head quickly to press a kiss against Draco's palm.

'Seriously?' came a cry from the gate and Harry glanced across to see Ron approaching. 'You've been here less than one minute. I timed it. You've been on the ground for thirty-six seconds, mate,' he said as he pulled Harry into a hug. Harry laughed, returning the embrace.

'Happy birthday,' Ron said as he stepped back, before turning to Draco and extending his hand.

'Malfoy.'

'Weasley,' Draco said in return, shaking his hand.

Harry rolled his eyes at the two of them and their stubborn refusal to use each other's names, and then linked his arm with Draco's. 'Let's go in. I'm starved.'

'You just ate an hour ago,' Draco said, eyeing him.

'Yes, but I'm a growing boy,' Harry said with a wink. 'It's my birthday, didn't you hear? Besides, Molly's catered and you haven't lived until you've been to a party Molly's catered.'

They walked through the gate behind Ron and Harry stopped as he took in the display before him. The Burrow was overtaken with bunting and streamers, and everywhere there were pictures of Harry's head looking down at him laughing or winking or giving some official speech.

Harry aimed a stinging jinx at Ron's leg and he yelped, turning around with a smile.

'Oi! I only did half of it, you know.'

'Who -' Harry began, then he spotted George, underneath the largest banner, which read, 'Harpy Beet-day.' On it was a picture of a harpy with her mouth wide open, about to sink her fangs into a pile of beets.

Harry laughed and pulled Draco in his direction but Draco had spotted Scorpius down by the veggie garden, playing a crazy game of chase with a pile of red-headed children. Harry glanced over and saw Rose in among them as well. Teddy was standing at the sidelines, watching them with the air of someone who was too old for such games, but also really thought it looked like a lot of fun. He gave the boy a wave, then spotted Hermione watching the playing children and waved to her too. She gave him a smile as he went to join George, scooping up a glass of punch and a cream bun on his way over.

He spent the next hour circulating the party, trying to say hello to everyone, gravitating back to Draco occasionally, but mostly just enjoying himself and being around people who loved him.

The sun was starting to set when Harry walked over to where Ginny was sitting on the swing, kicking idly back and forth as she watched the children playing and waited for Aiden to get back with her drink.

'Hey, Gin,' he said, leaning against the trunk and remembering countless hot summers days out here, talking about everything and nothing. He glanced over and saw Draco watching him, his eyes returning to Arthur when he caught Harry's glance.

'Hey,' she said, smiling at him and tilting back to swing a little higher.

'Thanks for coming,' he said, focusing on her. 'It's good to see you.'

'You too,' she said. 'Mum's been keeping me up to date. You look happy.'

Harry smiled back at her. 'I am. I really am. And you?'

Ginny's smile widened and she kicked higher on the swing. 'I'm good,' she said as she swished back and forth. 'I feel like anything might be possible now, you know?'

Harry looked across at Draco, who was examining what looked like a mobile phone and pointing out its various features to Arthur. He smiled, slow and deep.

'Yeah,' he said. 'I know.'

It was dark when Molly disappeared back inside the house. Harry knew she'd gone to get his cake, and he followed her inside. She'd been running around all day making sure things were just right and he hadn't had a second to talk to her.

'Want a hand?' he asked and she jumped slightly, turning to smile at him.

'Harry, love, you startled me. And I didn't think I could be crept up on any more, with the number of children creeping around this house.'

Harry smiled. 'Sorry. I just wanted to come in and say thank you,' he said, trying to convey the depths of his gratitude. 'For all of this. It's amazing. Perfect.'

Molly smiled, cheeks reddening slightly. 'It's nothing,' she said. 'No more than I'd do for any of my other boys.'

Those words settled over Harry, sinking into him. Something must have shown on his face because Molly's expression went soft and she opened her arms.

Harry stepped into her embrace and she held him tight.

'Happy birthday, Harry, darling,' she said. 'I'm so glad to see you smiling again.'

Harry held her back, not trusting himself to speak.

She stepped back after a moment, turning back to her task.

'If you want to help,' she said, 'You can carry the cake. It's a heavy thing and I don't trust a levitation charm on it. Things like that have always have an odd tendency to dump desert on people's heads in this house.'

Harry grinned and moved over to the bench, lifting the large H-shaped cake, smiling at the Gryffindor red and Slytherin green she'd piped around the edges.

After the cake and the singing and the well-wishing, the guests began to leave in twos and threes. The night was mild and twinkling lights lit the yard in a sparkling glow. The kids were still moving around in a loosely formed pack, though they were slower now.

Harry excused himself and found Draco, deep in conversation with Hermione about some obscure point of law, by the sounds of it.

'Talk work on work time,' he said, giving Hermione a wink as he pulled Draco away.

'That was interesting,' Draco protested, as he let Harry lead him towards the double swing seat set up in the yard.

'It's my birthday for,' he checked the time quickly, 'two and a bit more hours.'

'You're a brat,' Draco said, a look of mock-surprise on his face.

Harry leaned in to steal a kiss. 'You love it.'

Draco hummed noncommittally but his fingers tightened around Harry's and he stroked his thumb once over the back of Harry's knuckles.

They settled themselves into the seat, Harry leaning into Draco's side with his legs tucked up under himself, Draco's arm around his shoulders.

There was faint music playing from the house, and around them in the darkness, the conversations were quiet, punctuated by occasional laughter.

Harry let out a deep sigh, leaning his head on Draco's shoulder.

'This is nice,' he murmured.

He waited for some snarky comment to come, but instead Draco just hummed in agreement. Harry smiled and ran his fingers over Draco's knuckles.

Then Draco sat up slightly as Scorpius walked around the corner, climbing up to settle himself between them comfortably.

Harry put an arm around the boy and Draco pushed lightly against the ground so that they swung back and forth on the swing together.

Scorpius looked up at Draco, his pale face shining in the soft light.

'Do you know Rose's mama has an otter for a Paternus?' he asked, eyes wide and curious. 'And her papa has a dog, a small one.'

'Pat-ro-nus,' Draco corrected gently and Harry had to smile as a memory of Hermione in first year flashed into his mind for a moment.

'And yes, I did know that,' Draco continued.

'Yours is a phoenix,' Scorpius said proudly. 'I told them.'

'It is,' Draco agreed with a smile.

'Can I see it, papa?' Scorpius asked, face hopeful.

Draco leaned down to place a kiss on his upturned forehead and then he reached into his shirt, pulling out his wand and pointing it at the night sky as he whispered the charm.

A beautiful blue phoenix burst from the end of his wand, soaring into the sky, its mouth opened as it wordlessly sang into the darkness. It was a stunning sight, cutting gracefully through the air, its tail streaming behind it.

'What's your Pa-tro-nus, Harry?' Scorpius asked, turning to him after a moment of watching the bird soar with rapt attention.

'Harry's is a s-' Draco began, his words drying up as Harry lifted his arm into the air, spreading his fingers and letting the phoenix glide from his hand.

It soared up into the sky, joining Draco's, flying around it, as though teasing it.

Draco stared at it, eyes wide, a moment longer and then he turned to Harry.

'When did it change?' he asked, voice hoarse.

Harry shrugged one shoulder, smiling slightly. 'After that night at the Manor.'

'That - that was months ago -' Draco's voice was raw with emotion

Harry nodded again and Draco leaned forward over Scorpius' head, cupping Harry's cheek with one hand as he pulled him into a kiss that ached with tenderness.

Draco pulled back a fraction, to whisper. 'I love you. It scares me how much I love you.'

Harry kissed him again, knowing everything he felt for Draco was circling in the night sky above them.

Scorpius squirmed between them and Harry sat back at his cry of, 'eww, gross!'

He laughed and Draco did too, stroking his hand over Scorpius' hair and tucking his son into his side.

The three of them sat together, looking up at the two phoenixes flying together through the darkness.