Chapter Text
Harry stepped out of the phone box, glancing around as the snow fell down on him. He knew Draco would be waiting, and just up ahead he found the man in question, bundled in a dark black traveling cloak with a fuzzy gray scarf wrapped around his shoulders.
He smiled hearing the man call out to Teddy, who was holding a snowball in hand, aiming at the other. “Teddy if you throw that snowball, you’re not getting dessert!” Draco warned, his hands held out in front of him.
The near-adult young boy laughed, tossing the snowball up just slightly, enough to make Draco take a step back. “I don’t think those threats work on me anymore, Draco.”
“ Well !” Draco huffed backing up again, his back bumping into Harry’s chest. “Potter, take care of your son!” He growled out, and Harry saw snow already plastered across his chest that Draco had been wiping away.
“Teddy, be nice to your father,” Harry said easily, giving the boy a look, and shaking his head.
“It’s the first snow of December!” Teddy exclaimed, tossing the snowball again, smiling. “It’s just a little frozen water, Dad.”
“Edward Remus Lupin if you throw that ball of frozen water I am...-- I am serious! ” Draco nearly yelled, watching Teddy laugh as he chucked it across the distance to him. Harry laughed as Draco let out a breath when the ball hit him in the chest, “that’s it!” He growled, and Teddy ran hard laughing as Draco bent and grabbed his own handful of snow, throwing it in return, the ball of packed snow hitting Teddy in the back.
Harry smiled, shaking his head, as his husband let out a laugh of his own, grabbing another handful of snow and running after the boy.
“Honestly you two!” Harry called as he jogged after them to follow, watching them tear across the snow-covered walkway. “You’re both bloody children!”
Draco stopped, letting out a foggy breath of laughter, fresh snow packed in his hand as he turned to look at Harry, “you just called me a child?”
“A child.” Harry gave him a look, “Draco Malfoy, don’t start this with me.”
“Oh, no, no. We couldn’t have that, could we? Me . Acting like a child .”
“Draco,” Harry chuckled, “are we going to dinner, or not? We do have reservations.”
“Hm.” Draco smirked, “right, that’s what you meant.” He glanced back at Teddy who was laughing, hard, his smile infectious as he listened to their banter. “Teddy, are you ready for dinner, love? Seems your father is hungry.”
“Yeah, dinner.” Teddy nodded, and he dropped the ball of snow in his gloved hand, “alright, we’re done.”
Draco opened his own hand, the ball of snow falling from his grasp, “right, we’re finished, Potter.”
“Yeah,” Harry raised an eyebrow, giving them both a serious look, “clean yourselves up.”
Draco gave him a wink, as Teddy grabbed his wand and gave himself a dusting. Draco followed suit, his cheeks flushed with his fun and the cold, “take us to dinner, Potter.”
“You all first,” Harry waved a hand, looking up, they were only a block or so from the restaurant of their choice, Teddy’s favorite. For their limited time together during his holiday break, Draco and Harry both made a point to give Teddy as much attention as possible during his holiday home with them.
Draco rolled his eyes and took a very dramatic step forward before wrapping his arm around Teddy’s shoulders and giving him a squeeze. Teddy leaned towards his touch, happy, smiling as he talked about something to do with school, seeming to continue some conversation they had been having before the snowball fight took place.
Harry smiled as he followed after them. It always made him happy to have these moments, and he was even happier to announce his news at dinner with them. He was hopeful Teddy was going to be excited, and maybe even more hopeful that Draco would be. Though, at times, it was hard to read the man. Even after the last 12 years together, eight of them married. There were times Harry wasn’t always sure what to expect. Draco pulled them to a stop, waiting, as Harry brought up the last few steps.
Teddy reached for the door but Draco gave him a head shake and took his arm, “always let the man open the door for you, Teddy.”
“I am the man.” Teddy gave him a look, confused, watching as Harry placed a hand on Draco’s back and leaned forward to get the door.
“That is very true, you are a man, but you’re not my man.” Draco smiled, squeezing his arm, “and that is a lesson for when you have someone to open the door, never let them get their own door.”
“So, dad always gets your door? Aren’t you both men?”
“I’m just more demanding,” Draco chuckled, “he’s easy to please.”
“Draco, let’s not discuss this here .” Harry shook his head, “or at all really, in his presence.”
“Potter, at some point he has to learn how to either take care of someone or be taken care of.” Draco answered dryly, “I’ve heard rumors, Teddy Lupin, and I will have no son of mine being a poor excuse of a man, of any sort, with someone.”
Teddy’s face flushed, looking away and rubbing his hands together. Harry raised an eyebrow, “did something happen?”
“Oh, no, not those rumors-- did something happen, Teddy?”
“No!” Teddy exclaimed, mortified, “please, stop. Bollocks!”
“ Language ,” Draco answered, then met the hostess, “three for Malfoy.”
“Of course!” She said happily, “we were taking bets if we’d see you three today, knowing young Teddy was home on break.”
Teddy smiled, “they spoil me, even still.” She grinned at his answer and once they were seated, Draco and Harry on the same side, Teddy across from them, Draco gave him a curious look.
“Should we not be spoiling you, Teddy?”
“I was just saying.” Teddy sighed.
Draco glanced at Harry, who lifted a shoulder, “so, the rumors?” Harry asked quietly, looking between them.
“Well, rumor is our Teddy seems to be seeing someone,” Draco said easily, picking up his menu, before putting it back down. He knew what he was going to have, they all did, really. It was a family favorite.
“Dad, please!” Teddy was bright in embarrassment, shaking his head, “I’m not seeing someone.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Draco said simply, “because from what I’ve heard there have been a few questionable moments in Hogwarts’ Halls, love.”
“How have you heard all of this?”
“Teddy,” Draco shook his head, “one of our best mates is a professor at your school, isn’t he?”
“Neville,” Teddy groaned, “look, we’re just... We’re seeing what happens, that's all.”
“Of course,” Draco smiled, happy now. “You’ll love who it is, Potter,” he added, quieter than he had been speaking. Teddy didn’t seem to hear his comment.
“Why’s that?” Harry asked, leaning towards Draco just slightly.
“She’s a Weasley.”
“O-oh!” Harry arched an eyebrow and looked at Teddy who was looking over his menu.
“Like father, like son, huh?”
Harry rolled his eyes and gave Draco a warning look, who chuckled and lifted a shoulder. “Well, Ted, tell me about her?”
The boy's face flushed red, his blue hair growing brighter, “she’s, uh, a year younger. We all know her, Victoire.”
“Victoire?” Harry smiled, a bright happy smile. “I mean it does make sense,” he breathed out, looking over his son. “If that’s what you want, Ted, that’s what you want.”
Teddy sighed, glancing away, “we’re just getting to know each other. Better.”
Harry chuckled, “okay, so, you’re getting to know each other. Better.”
“Yes, that’s all!”
“We’re not mad,” Draco said easily, “though I would like to hear that you’re focusing a bit more on school, and not on playing hide-and-seek with this girl.”
Teddy groaned, “can you two… please, drop it?”
“So the only thing I’m going to say then,” Harry cleared his throat, and gave the boy a once over, “yeah, perhaps we don’t do anything too crazy? And if you’re going to,” he paused, cleared his throat again, and leaned in, “ shag, we use protection.”
“Harry!” Teddy, red-faced, nearly yelled. “We’re not shagging!”
Draco laughed quietly, “I’ll take care of protection,” he said quietly. “Let the boy be, Potter. He’ll tell us more if and when he wants.”
Harry rolled his eyes as he sat back, “you can’t just take his side now that he is flustered.”
“Of course I can, I’m the good guy.”
Harry smiled, now that Draco had gotten what he wanted he could swoop in and let Teddy feel like he was the one to turn to. His ultimate goal. Always had been that way with him, since he had been in his life around the age of 6. He had been very adamant about not meeting Teddy when they had first started seeing each other, but when he did meet him, he fell so quickly and hard for the boy.
“You know, Draco, you say like father, like son and I think there may be a bit of truth in that,” Harry said quietly, watching his husband turn to him with a lifted eyebrow and a smirk. “Not because she’s a Weasley.”
“Why’s that then?”
“Because she’s a beautiful blonde with a bit of a fiery attitude.”
Draco chuckled, “oh, that’s what it is?”
“That’s what it is.”
“Veela blood,” Draco whispered, “she’s completely ensnared him from the way Neville tells it.”
Harry smiled, “young love.” He sat up straighter and smiled at Teddy, “did you decide on dinner Ted?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, relaxing as the topic changed. “We're having the Holiday party this year, right?”
Draco seemed interested in that, he held up a finger before waving their waitress over, placing the order for himself. Then Harry and Teddy gave theirs, while he slipped his coat and scarf off and adjusted to get comfortable.
Teddy waited, he knew there was no use in rushing the party talk if Draco wanted to discuss it. Once they were all settled and their orders were placed he turned his attention back to his son, “Us hosting the Holiday Party? Is there a particular reason?”
“Oh, we haven’t hosted in a while?”
Harry made a face, “we did three years ago?” He asked, “or am I remembering wrong?”
“Oh, okay.” Teddy seemed to be counting on his hand the number of friends they shared hosting the holidays with. Ron and Hermione (all the Wesley’s were always included in their count), Neville and Pansy, Blaise… “So next year is us, then?”
Draco took a drink from his wine glass, “are you wanting us to host this year, Ted?”
“We could?”
Harry smiled, “I think it is Neville and Pansy’s turn,” he said quietly, “let me ask how they would feel about a swap.”
Teddy smiled, wide, “really?”
“Yeah, I’ll talk with her tomorrow.” Harry returned the smile.
“ Tomorrow ?” Draco asked, arching an eyebrow and turning to Harry in question. “You’re not going in tomorrow.”
“Well, I need to stop in,” Harry said easily, “I’m sure she’ll be finishing up any work, for her time away. To spend time with Neville.”
“And you’re spending your son's first full day back from Hogwarts at work?” Draco asked, clearly irritated, his eyes hard as he looked at Harry.
Teddy cleared his throat, he knew this argument. Really their only argument was about Harry and how much he worked. He didn’t know how much of an argument it was when he wasn’t there. He never asked, and they never discussed it. Hell, they barely had the actual argument in front of him ever, it was just things he had heard in passing. He didn’t remember it so much until he was just 10, that final year at home with them.
Every now and then a few words were exchanged about Harry working all the time, about how he didn’t need to, about how he had given enough to the bloody world, he could enjoy a family. Their family. Maybe have a child of their own.... Teddy had always liked the idea, far more than he ever told them.
However, a baby brother or sister never came. It was never brought up, it was never discussed - not with him. He waited, but it never came. He could remember the only time he had ever said a thing about it, to Harry when they had gone out for something for his trip that had been forgotten his first year. Harry took him to get ice cream after they grabbed the forgotten item, and as they sat there Teddy asked, “are we getting a baby?” Harry’s face darkened, and he narrowed his eyes, “did Draco put you up to this?” Teddy had explained he hadn’t, but he knew Harry didn’t believe him.
After that, he never heard any of their arguments when he was around. Even late at night when he was excitedly sneaking hours of no sleep and he could hear his dads in the house or early mornings he woke up and wanted to go back to sleep and he could hear them moving about. Never anymore whispered words or arguments.
Though, Harry worked a lot. He knew it was still a bother, he could see it on Draco’s face when he was around, home from school for the breaks. He could tell it was something that ate at Draco, just like the want of another, or a - at this point, baby. Teddy didn’t think it had anything to do with the idea that he wasn’t either of theirs biologically, they had both adopted him and he felt very much like their son. He always had, and he knew he always would. But, moments like when Draco made an empty threat of, “you’re not getting dessert,” he knew his father would give anything for a baby, a child to well... treat like a child , rather than sitting across from him at his favorite restaurant explaining how to treat a lady.
This seven-year-old conversation didn’t seem to ever be coming to a head. He didn’t understand it, and he supposed he didn’t have to. Maybe Harry had never wanted children, and Teddy was just an obligation - he didn’t feel any less love from him, in any way, he was his dad, but if the choice had been his? Would this have been the choice he made? Teddy didn’t know, and he wanted to ask. Just not in public, or around Draco.
He had a few things in mind to figure out during his holiday break this year.
The work talk seemed to still be a problem. As Teddy grew every now and then comments were made, though not often. Right then? Seemed to be a slip-up, he realized as Draco quickly picked up his wine glass, gave a nod, and took a drink.
Teddy didn’t respond, he didn’t want either of them to feel bad. It was okay to have disagreements, he understood people had disagreements, and he understood things like that happened. I’m 17 for Christ's sake, he thought, maybe a little annoyed.
He would never tell them, either of them, but he would have liked Harry to have been home more throughout his childhood. He loved Draco very much, and he’d never give up any of those moments but he also would have liked Harry to have been part of more of them, than he had been.
Harry sighed, and sat back in his seat, “yeah, I have to take care of a few things tomorrow.” He had hoped to broach the topic in a better light, everyone a little happier than they were at the moment as this unfolded, “so I can have the next month off, with you two.”
Draco seemed startled, he jerked around and looked at Harry. Taking him in, taking in the words. Harry was giving him a look, passively, “and I won’t be gone all day, Ted, you can even come in with me. I just need to finish up a bit, I left in a hurry today to get here. ” He finally looked from Draco to Teddy, “if you’d like, if not that’s fine. I’ll be home by lunch.”
“Okay, dad.” Teddy smiled, “thanks.”
“Thanks?” Harry asked, “what?”
Teddy lifted a shoulder, “for, uh, taking time off. I know you-- you like to work, would rather be working than with me, so I just appreciate it.”
Draco’s breath caught in his throat as Teddy said that, sucking in deep, hard, fast. “Te-Teddy.” He whispered his name like a knife and the teenager flicked his eyes to Draco before he sat back and glanced down at the table.
Shit. Father is going to cry. I should not have said that. He knew that, as soon as it came out, but he just... He was just angry. He was happy Harry was taking time off, finally , but he was also pissed. Why hadn’t he done this before? Why hadn’t he done this for Draco? Why... What was the point?
“It’s fine,”’ Teddy said quickly, “Excuse me.” He got up and made a beeline towards the back, where the restrooms were.
Harry sighed, “fuck.” Draco didn’t say anything, he just folded his hands in his lap and let out a breath. Harry reached over, slowly, and took him by the chin, “sorry, I didn’t think it was go—.”
“No, you didn’t.” Draco jerked out of his grasp, shaking his head, “I have told you for years, Potter.”
“I know.”
“And, he’s not 10 anymore. He’s not 11. 12. 13. He understands now, and he just told you what he understands.”
“Well, that’s bullshit. Of course, I wouldn’t rather be at work, than with him and you.”
“You don’t have to convince me of that, Potter. You have to tell him that. That right there is a man looking at his father and letting him know he has felt unloved.”
Harry frowned, deeply, “unloved?”
“I don’t imagine a boy that has felt loved would say something like that.”
“Draco.”
Draco turned and looked at Harry, “again, I’m not the person you have to convince, Potter.”
“Is… Is that how you feel?”
“Unloved?” Draco chuckled, shaking his head, “No, I know you love me. You show me that in many, many ways. There have been times I have felt slighted, and early years an inconvenience.”
“I know, I am sorry.” Harry watched Draco leaning towards him, and then he felt the kiss on his cheek, “I’ll talk to him.”
“We have less than a year, I mean one real year and then he leaves us, Potter. In some way, he’s going to grow and he’s going to want to leave.” Draco said softly, “then we’re gonna get visits, and maybe one day grandchildren. We don’t have anyone else, we don’t have anything else to look towards, y’know? It’s just him. Just how you wanted it. So, don’t fuck it up.”
Harry took a breath, “but we’ve agreed we’d never tell him about those choices.”
“I think at some point, both of us have to realize he isn’t a child anymore, Potter…” Draco frowned when he said that, and Harry just wanted to pull him in and hold him, but he didn’t. Not then, not there, not after this conversation. “We are in our early thirties, and we’re about to be empty nesters, as the term goes. This was our chance, Potter. So, don’t fuck this up for you… and don’t fuck this up for me.”
Harry gave a nod of understanding, “I promise I will talk to him.”
“Here is what we can do,” Draco said, giving his throat a clear, “you can go get our son, and face the consequences of your actions with him, however long it takes and I’m not just talking about this moment, Potter. I mean in general. I will have this boxed to go, and we’ll take him home and give him the best December he has ever had. Even if you think it is childish and stupid and whatever else word you want to throw at him and me when we’re having fun and making memories.”
Harry gave him a startled look, “I… I don’t think the things you do together are childish and stupid.”
“Mm,” Draco lifted a shoulder, “if he’s crying in that restroom and you don’t go in there, this is going to be a very long holiday.”
Harry stood up walking towards the back, leaving Draco to sort their dinner. He walked into the small room and found Teddy at the sink washing his hands, their eyes meeting in the mirror. “Uhm, we’re going to take dinner to go.” Harry started, watching Teddy turn around and face him. “If that’s alright?”
“That’s fine.”
“Look, I’ve never been great at all this, huh?” Teddy didn’t answer, he just crossed his arms against his chest, “and I’d really rather we didn’t have this conversation here in the loo, but uh, I love you, Teddy.”
“I know.”
“You are my whole world, okay? You and Draco, everything I do is to focus on that simple truth.” Harry took a nervous breath, “I just want to make sure you’re okay before we walk out there and go home.”
“Dad asked you to do that?”
Harry blinked, startled, he knew they didn’t see Teddy as much as normal teenage parents typically saw their children, but he was not expecting this type of attitude and anger from him. “No, I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. ” Teddy hissed, and Harry watched his hair shifting colors. Darker blue, as his eyes narrowed at his father.
“We can talk about this at home, better, okay?” Harry suggested, watching the bo-- neigh, young man stand before him seeming ready to explode.
“No, we can’t, Harry.” Teddy answered hotly, “because every time I try to talk about anything with you, you shut it down.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is, and I am tired of being silenced by you.”
Harry took a breath, his eyebrows hitched, “Teddy.... I don’t silence you.”
Teddy scoffed, “I’m fine , let’s just go like you want.”
Harry looked over when someone pushed the door open and he stepped forward, “uh, just a moment for us please?” The man stepped back and closed the door, letting them alone. He turned to Teddy, “really could have picked a better time for this, Edward.” He sighed, “look, whatever it is can we talk at home?”
“ Whatever it is?” Teddy glared at him, anger growing, “you’re doing it right now!”
“I’m not try— Teddy, I’m not trying to silence you. We’re in a restaurant.”
“Right, okay.”
“ Fine !” Harry practically yelled at him, “let’s have it out then.”
Teddy gave an annoyed look, “why did you take time off?”
“That’s what this is about? Me taking a holiday to spend with you?”
“No,” Teddy frowned, “it’s because you never have. Before. So, what’s the bloody point this year?” Harry blinked, watching him, “and father has been asking for years for you to take time with him, and you didn’t. That’s what it is about!”
“We’re not talking about your father and me.”
“I know,” Teddy laughed, “we’re talking about you, dad, and why you don’t spend time with us. You know other dads, parents , do that with their children when they’re home and I know I’m not your child, but you’re the one that raised me. You and Draco. So, this is all I had.”
“You… You are my son, Teddy. You are Draco’s son.”
“ You didn’t have much of a choice, did you?”
“Teddy,” Harry felt his heartbreaking, his mind reeling as that seemed to settle in around him, “Teddy, I could have walked away at any time but I didn’t. I wanted to be with you.”
“Sometimes I wish you had,” Teddy snapped, “then I wouldn’t have been wondering why I was such a bother for you for the last 17 years of my life.” Teddy grabbed the door handle and jerked it open, storming out of the bathroom. Harry stared at the door as it slammed shut, taking a deep breath before he walked out of the bathroom.
“Uh, sorry mate.” He said to the man standing there, “all yours.” The man gave a small nod while stepping around him, and Harry moved through the restaurant slowly. He took his time, and even though he knew Draco would have handled it all he took an extra stop to see if everything was settled.
Then he slipped into his coat, and out the door finding Draco and Teddy standing just off from the door. He knew this was going to be a disaster, and he didn’t want it to be a disaster. He wanted everything to go differently, he needed everything to go differently, but he was quickly realizing it seemed he had a lot to apologize for. Maybe, even to Draco as well.
As Harry walked up he found Teddy laughing with Draco, and the blonde giving him a playful look, “you used to jump in the snowdrifts, love.” Draco was grinning as he said, “I’d give anything to go back to that, Teddy.”
“What’s that?”
“You and me out at the park while running around making snow angels, and catching snowflakes.” Draco smiled at Teddy before waving his hand, “I fear you’ve grown up on me, Teddy Lupin, into a fine young man, I will say, but still a young man nonetheless. My days are over for raising a child, but I am very happy they were spent with you .”
“One day, Draco, you’ll get everything you want. You’re young.”
Draco seemed startled at those words, and he cleared his throat, “uh, we’re young, Teddy.”
“Right,” Teddy nodded, “you both are young.”
Harry watched them, the way Teddy frowned as he glanced back out at the falling snow and then he shrugged, “hey I told Jason and Mike I would be home tonight, they thought we could go to a movie.” Draco glanced at his watch as he talked. “Don’t think it’d be a problem?”
“Uh, no?” Draco studied him, for just a moment, then he smiled, “be safe,” he said while reaching into the pocket of his winter coat, and pulling his wallet that kept Muggle money. “Don’t be too late if you want to join dad at work tomorrow, alright? Be safe, and don’t forget your manners.”
Teddy smiled, shaking his head when Draco handed him too much money, he never really had understood the concept of Muggle currency.
“Oh, Ted,” Teddy looked back in question, “why the Holiday dinner?”
“Thought it might be nice, one last time and all. The three of us.”
“Oh,” Draco nodded, “okay, yeah, we will make it happen, love. We’d do anything for you, you know?”
“Yeah, I know you would. See you later, Draco.”
“Be careful, curfew is 11, and if I have to come searching for you, you’re not going to be spending your time with those two again.”
“I know.” Teddy chuckled, shaking his head, “give dad a hug for me?” Then he was gone, jogging towards the station to get out of the snow, leaving Draco watching after him until Harry took a step forward.
“Ready?”
Draco turned to him with a smile, “Potter,” he said softly, handing him the takeout bag, “Ted’s gone to see his friends.”
“I heard.”
“Mm,” Draco nodded, then reached out for Harry’s hand, giving it a soft squeeze. “One last time? What’s that mean, you think?”
“I don’t know,” Harry lifted his shoulder, “probably something to do with you being young and able to have the life you want.”
The other chuckled, shaking his head, “this is the life I want, Potter. He’s a child, he doesn’t understand what he’s saying in that sense.”
“Want to know what he told me?”
“No.”
“Okay,” Harry nodded, “I’ll take care of it.”
“I know you will.” Draco brought their hands up to give him a kiss on his knuckles, then let his hand go, “you’re a good person in all there Harry Potter, just a little dense sometimes.”
Harry smiled, rolling his eyes, “yeah, my lack of brains really showcases my heart.” Draco smiled in return, “alright let’s get you home.”
“Home,” the other grinned, “just us now, tonight, hm?”
“That is true,” Harry glanced over with a wicked smile before his eyes widened and his mouth popped open as a snowball hit him in the chest.
Draco’s laugh filled the street, as he went running away towards the alleyway, “ childish !” Harry called, though a tease, he suddenly thought of what Draco had said at the table and he blew out a breath, bent down, and packed his own snowball, running after the other. Maybe it was time to let things like that go, maybe it was time to be a little more childish. A little more alive. Afterall.