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Harry was nervous as hell.
Walking along the corridor of the Ministry, he tried remembering the last time he had been this nervous but he honestly couldn’t find any instance. Maybe the final battle with Tom came close but… well. That had been something he’d been working towards for years, his whole life really, instead of mere weeks. He was rather sure he’d been more resolved than nervous in the end.
Today though; today…
“Harry, darling, will you please sit?” Andromeda begged softly, reaching for him when he passed her for the umpteenth time. “You’ll wear a hole in the ground and, to be quite frank, you’re driving me batty.”
“Apologies,” Harry mumbled.
Following the small tug of her hand, he sat down next to her. Her hand continued to hold his, gripping it rather tightly.
“Nothing to apologise for. We’re all nervous.”
Harry nodded but didn’t look down the corridor towards where his friends sat, waiting patiently. Some of them were here mainly to lend their support, some were the witnesses needed for this process and Harry couldn’t bear looking at any of their reassuring faces right now. And he sure as hell wouldn’t look in the other direction. The direction where they sat…
Swallowing, he looked up at Andromeda – only to betray his own thoughts, letting his eyes wander further after all, catching a quick glimpse of him.
Still feeling the lump in his throat, Harry swallowed, again and again, but it simply wouldn’t dislodge, making it hard to breathe. Andromeda’s hand gripped even tighter and Harry would’ve winced had it been any other moment. But he needed the anchor just as much as she did.
Finally, the door across from them opened.
“Case number 7392-87, custody of Edward Remus Lupin.”
Looking at each other, Harry saw steel forming in Andromeda’s eyes; conviction, sureness. They could do this.
They had to do this.
Nodding at her, she nodded back before they rose as one and entered the room of the Wizengamot. Followed first by the other party, then the listeners. As they sat down, Harry couldn’t help but let his gaze wander over to the other table, the other party. When he saw only two familiar faces, he frowned – until he remembered. The third one wasn’t here as a plaintiff. No.
Draco Malfoy was here as a witness.
To speak on behalf of his parents.
To gain custody of Teddy Lupin.
Harry closed his eyes for a brief moment, the reality of it all still too enormous. Because… the man he had come to see as a friend over the past five years… the man Harry loathed to admit he had caught feelings for; had been pretty damn sure they’d been mutual… that man was now once again… on the opposite side.
~*~
When all this had started; when they had first heard that Lucius Malfoy indeed had the gall to claim any right over Teddy, Harry had feared that the whole disaster would stretch out over weeks, maybe even months. As it seemed though, the Wizangamot wanted to finish the whole matter before lunch, now that the case had begun.
Very well then. The sooner this was done and over with, the sooner they could take Teddy home again. Lucius had filed his claim along with the reasoning that Andromeda was unfit to care for her grandson after losing and grieving her late husband, daughter, and son-in-law – ignoring the fact that it had been five years since then – and that Harry’s fame and profession as an auror didn’t make for a safe environment, still attracting too much attention to his person (whatever that meant). Teddy had been put into a temporary foster home since then, the adults letting him believe he was on some kind of adventure or summer camp and that he would be home before he knew it so he should enjoy his time there. Harry just hoped that they would be able to keep that promise in the end.
Thankfully, Harry being Harry Potter, he had been able to push the lawsuit ahead, and not even two weeks had passed since the day they had taken Teddy from his home. But it was already two weeks too long, in his opinion. Teddy belonged with them, with Andromeda and him.
The past five years since the war had been… well, not great, but they had managed. Teddy was mostly with his grandmother, but he had his own room at Grimmauld Place, spent every other week with Harry and some days with the Weasleys, and Harry stayed at Andromeda’s place for at least two weekends every month.
It was good.
It was… yeah, it was great.
It wasn’t as if anyone would ever be able to replace Remus and Tonks in Teddy’s life – but they were doing their utmost to give him the best life possible with the cards they’d all been dealt. And Harry knew that had to count for something.
Theoretically, he also knew that Lucius’ claim on Teddy was weak at best. But there was a blood relation and after switching sides at the end of the war, Lucius had worked hard to become a respected member of the Wizarding community once again. He’d done a formidable job, the name Malfoy already back in high regards. A donation here and there certainly helped.
Still. Everyone Harry knew had assured him that there was no way this man could win a case against the godfather, who was the Saviour of the Wizarding world himself, and against the grandmother of the child. Harry may have hated being called the Saviour – however, if it would bring him but one ounce of an advantage in this case, he would forever wear that name with honour.
Yet all the logic and reason and good words in the world didn’t really help to quiet Harry’s worry. Living the life he had to live so far had surely shown him that this world was not run by the principle of fairness but mostly by power, money, and status. All of which Lucius had more than enough. All of which ran through Harry’s mind the entire time the Wizengamot opened the case and let the lawyers from both sides give their opening statements. It was on his mind while Lucius plead his case and while Andromeda spoke on their behalf; and it was on his mind when the children’s psychologist was questioned, explaining how exceptionally well Teddy was doing with the tragedies he’d lived through during his young life, what a happy child he was, the depth of his understanding of his parents’ deaths, and how well-developed he was for his age. All in all, a stunning review, which made it a little easier to breathe again.
His first good breath of the day was almost stolen from him as the name of the first witness rang through the room.
Aside from his constant worries, what really cut Harry deep was another detail altogether. It was the fact that a man he had come to trust, to confide in and open up to; a man he’d come to see as more than a close friend, if he was being honest with himself; that this man was currently walking onto the stands to make a witness statement in favour of Lucius. Against Harry.
The closer Draco moved towards the witness stand, the tighter Harry’s chest became.
When exactly it had happened, Harry couldn’t say anymore, but some time after the war, Draco and Harry had become friends. Working side by side in the ministry had been fuelled with tension at first, then tension somehow became friendly comradery, and a deep friendship developed at last. A friendship that, over the past months, had been filled with a new kind of tension. A tension that was nothing like it had been during their time at school. A tension that had taken Harry a long time to figure out.
He was attracted to his former nemesis.
And he believed that attraction was mutual.
There had been moments between them… moments Harry could hardly believe had been real now that the other was ready to testify against him. Ready to give a testimony that might not lead to Harry losing this case – but that would surely break his heart.
“Draco Malfoy,” the Wizengamot began after running through all the formalities. “What would you like to say in regards to your father claiming custody over Edward Lupin?”
Draco’s eyes found Harry’s and for a moment, he was sure he saw… something; a flash of something he didn’t have time to name before Draco turned away. Without any time to make sense of the look, Draco was speaking directly to the Wizengamot.
“My opinion of this matter is simple. It should never happen.”
Harry’s eyes went wide, sure he had misheard. But the shocked gasp from Andromeda and more so the appalled grunt from Lucius told him they had heard it too. Narcissa, alone, stayed calm, eyes focused on her son. Who didn’t miss a beat.
“I’m not saying my father was a bad father – but he wasn’t the best either. He welcomed a madman in my home while I was still a minor. A madman that forced me into a role that I never wanted a part of to protect my family. Sure, we all know that madman is no more, but that doesn’t change the fact that it happened to me.” Draco made a pause that Harry couldn’t help but feel was deliberate. Draco let the information sit with the witches and wizards of the Wizengamot, let the unease seep into their bones before he went on at last. “One could probably say my father deserves a second chance, to raise another child like his own son. But Teddy already has a father figure in his life.”
And Harry had to suck in a deep breath when Draco’s intense gaze found him, still speaking to the judges but clearly needing Harry to know that he meant every word he said.
“A man he looks up to and adores and that teaches him right from wrong. A man who does everything in his power to keep the boy safe and raise him to be a generous and wonderful young man. Not even to speak of the fact that he adores him right back and loves him as if Teddy was his own.”
Too late Harry realized there were tears in his eyes and they silently fell, Harry not daring to look away from Draco to dry his eyes. There was another pause, one Draco used to still fully, intentionally look at him before letting his gaze wander to his aunt.
“And that isn’t even bringing to light the love Teddy gets from his grandmother, my dear aunt. My father aimed to make it look like she was grieving too much to take care of a child. But the opposite is the case, really. My aunt has so much love to give, so much warmth and devotion. She gives it all to Teddy now. Whenever I see the boy, he is nothing but full of laughter and joy. I don’t think there’s been a day in his life where this boy has known heartache or sorrow. He lost his parents and yes, one day he will understand what that truly means. But my aunt, as well as Mr Potter, make sure that he will never actually feel a lack of love. He won’t ever be alone.”
Out of the blue, Draco’s gaze hardened as he let it wander to where his father sat. “No, I’m sure Teddy knew no sorrow – until my father stepped into his life and made it so he was ripped from his loving family. Even if only temporary. It still shows that he doesn’t have the boy’s best interest at heart, but what to gain from this little farce. For nothing more than a farce it can be. You want my opinion? No one in their right mind would rip Teddy away from such a loving and caring household to have him live with a man who does this for a reason not even I as his son can understand. Teddy already has a good life – why would you pull him away from that just because someone can’t let the past rest?”
~*~
Everything after that was a blur, really. All Harry could think about was that they had won – and trying to find Draco and kiss him for what he had just done. His testimony was enough reason for the Wizengamot to cut the case short, voting unanimously that Teddy was to stay with Andromeda and Harry – both now officially his legal guardians at last.
They had won. Just like that, Draco had won the case for them.
But as soon as the verdict was spoken and the case closed, Draco slipped from the room, following his parents in their swift exit. Harry watched him leave, eyes glued to his back as he found himself in Andromeda’s arms; he wanted to hasten after him, talk to him, thank him – but there were other things that came first. The rest of their friends were let in, no longer needed as witnesses, and once they heard the why, a general buzzing of excitement broke loose. It came to a crescendo the moment Teddy was accompanied into the room. Letting go of the court officer’s hand, he ran towards them at full speed right into Andromeda’s arms. He was peppered with kisses that made him giggle and while they all hugged him close he told them how nice the two weeks at the ‘camp’ had been but that he really missed them and wanted to go home now.
“Yeah, buddy,” Harry replied, smiling wide through his tears as he took Teddy from Andromeda’s arms. “We’ll do that. And we’ll buy you a big ice cream on the way, for being such a good boy.”
In his excitement, Teddy let his hair morph into dark strands that matched Harry’s while listing all the flavours he wanted to eat.
The group was still celebrating by the time they were asked to clear the room for the next case. With Teddy on his arm, Harry led the way and was the first to step back into the corridor. Only to stop short when he saw him right away. He could sense the rest of their group step all around him, spilling into the corridors of the Wizengamot – but he only had eyes for Draco, who stood with his mother, father nowhere to be seen. Mother and son were in a tight embrace, and Harry caught the last of Narcissa's words.
“... so proud of you, Draco.”
“Narcissa?” The question came from Andromeda who had stopped right next to Harry, making their presence known.
Letting go of her son, Narcissa looked over at them, beaming at her sister.
“Andromeda! Oh, I'm so sorry we didn’t tell you sooner. Draco and I thought it best that this was solved in front of the Wizengamot and that Lucius felt safe in our support, lest he go and search for other witnesses to speak on his behalf.”
“This was planned?” Andromeda sounded as gobsmacked as Harry himself felt and judging by the silence all around, their group of friends and family were as well.
Narcissa nodded with a smile that seemed more carefree than Harry had ever seen. “From the very beginning. As soon as Lucius told us what he had planned, Draco and I knew what we had to do. And more so, it was the final straw for me.” Reaching for her son’s hand she looked at him for a moment as if to share the lightness she seemed to carry now. “I gave that man so many chances, over and over again. But I had a long talk with my son and he agrees this is for the best.” Turning back to them, she explained, “The divorce papers will reach Lucius tonight and I already have my things packed to leave Malfoy Manor.”
It seemed Andromeda was more than ready to forgive her sister as she rushed forward, catching her in a tight embrace as Narcissa met her halfway. Harry’s eyes stayed on the two for only a moment before they wandered to Draco, finding the man already looking back at him. How long they simply stared at each other, Harry couldn’t say but it was long enough for Teddy to get squirmish as he twisted in his arm and reached for the other man, squealing in delight, “Draco.”
“Hello, little man,” Draco replied as he stepped towards them with a smile that held the same warmth it always did when he met Teddy. “Are you happy to be back with your Uncle Harry?”
“Yes!” Teddy exclaimed, still sounding delighted. Still sounding like nothing had ever been admiss, as if he was simply coming home after a little adventure. Harry closed his eyes for a moment, resting his forehead against Teddy’s hair; thankful that the harsh reality of what could’ve been had never reached him.
When he opened his eyes again, he was met with the sight of platinum blonde hair, as Teddy was prone to morph it to match Draco’s whenever the man was near. Happily babbling on, Teddy knew how to keep Draco busy – buying Harry some time to study the man’s features this close.
It didn’t take long for Draco to notice that he was being watched, his eyes wandering to Harry more often than not. But before either man could say anything, Teddy demanded to be let down so he could run over to his Aunt Hermione.
The moment he was gone, both men spoke at once.
“Harry, I–”
“Draco, what–”
Both stopped, breathing out a little laugh before Draco motioned for him to go first.
“What you did for us… I don’t even know how to thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” Draco assured him right away. “Honestly. Not only was it the absolute right thing to do, I also… that is to say…”
It didn’t happen often that Draco Malfoy was searching for the right words and that it happened now left Harry just as speechless. Which was for the better though, leaving Draco enough time to finally find his words.
“Harry, you know I did this for you, right?” he blurted out all of a sudden and if he was shocked by his own admission, he didn’t let it stop him. Holding Harry’s gaze, he went on. “I mean, yes of course it’s all true what I said and I love Teddy enough to only want the best for him. But– really, I did all this for you.”
“You did?”
“Yes.”
There were at least one million possible ways to reply to this; to show his gratitude; to thank him. But the only one Harry could think of at this moment was to step right into Draco’s space and to capture the soft lips he’d been dreaming about for so long.
Whooping and cheering broke all around them, bringing Harry back to reality far sooner than he would’ve wished for; back into the halls of the Ministry, back to the present. Looking around, he found his friends – their friends – watching them with the biggest smiles possible.
“Finally!” Ron exclaimed, Luna and Ginny nodding vehemently, while Fred and George could be seen behind them, exchanging money; meanwhile, Hermione put Teddy back down so the boy could rush back to them.
“Uncle Harry, does that mean you can get married now?”
Stunned by that question, but deciding to just let the euphoria of the moment sweep him away, Harry picked Teddy right up and lifted him onto his hip, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“All in due time, Teddy bear.” And catching Draco’s gaze, he added, “Let me take him on a date first, okay?”
“Okay,” Teddy easily replied, hugging Harry’s neck before reaching for the other man.
Draco, still standing so close to him, still right by his side, returned Harry’s smile. “Only if you let me take you on a second and third,” he cheekily replied while already leaning closer to let Teddy pull him into a hug. As soon as Harry laughed and nodded, Draco first pressed a kiss to the boy’s head and then caught Harry’s lips for another brief kiss. And while it was chaste, it certainly held a promise for more, for later.
When their celebrating group finally decided to leave the ministry, Draco stayed right by their side, his arm around Harry while Harry held Teddy tight, their friends and family behind them. And in this moment, right then and there, Harry knew that this was the start of something new. Of something wonderful.