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Draco Malfoy tried to calm his breathing as he watched himself in the large mirror.
It was almost half six, which was when Harry was supposed to pick him up. He had already gone through 4 changes of clothes, 2 different ties, fixed and refixed his hair, and finally selected a coat for the evening.
This was it. He was meeting Black and Lupin for the first time as Harry’s boyfriend. Officially at least. He’d met them, even talked to his cousin several times, after his trial. But those conversations didn’t involve Harry. The aftermath of the war had taken all their time then, and now, a year after the war, they were 19 years old and Draco was hopelessly in love with Harry. He knew Harry was it for him. He wouldn’t have dreamt of this happening even in his wildest dreams a year ago. When Narcissa started visiting Andromeda several times a week, reconnected with her cousin Sirius, Draco got dragged into the circle of Harry Potter’s family. He was with his godson when Narcissa and Draco went to Andromeda’s, he was living with his godfather at Grimmauld Place when they went to see Sirius.
It first came as a surprise to him, how Harry didn’t hate him anymore, even had seemed interested in holding a conversation voluntarily. He knew Harry must’ve forgiven him on some level, since he had stood for him and Narcissa at their trials. They had eventually started spending more time together alone, away from prying eyes. Harry was the first one to show him Muggle London, showed him films, plays, operas, the fancy shopping districts and the bars London had to offer. Draco had learned about a whole new world from Harry, learned more about Harry himself during those initial months. They kissed, they fucked, and Harry had told him how he must’ve seen this coming years ago, it was no wonder he had fallen in love with Draco given how obsessed he had been with him for the past 7 years. Yes, Draco told him then, it was always going to be you, always going to be us.
Harry had told his family about Draco last month. He said Ron had been the only one miffed at first, but promised he came around in no time. Draco suspects his mother had always known, she had just smiled in that knowing way of hers when Draco decided to rip the band-aid and tell her. And now, Harry’s godfather and Lupin, his parents really, invited him to dinner.
There was a knock at his bedroom door, and Harry walked in, smiling.
“You look lovely, Draco” he said, his dimple flashing.
“Are you making fun of me Potter?” Draco bit back with a scowl.
“No no! You really do. Really.” he walked over to Draco and kissed him deeply, in that way that always made Draco forget himself and the world.
“You don’t have to be nervous, darling. It’s just Sirius and Remus. It’ll be fine, I made them promise not to make you uncomfortable, if that helps” Harry’s breath caressed Draco’s face, and he never wanted to leave this room and face them. He took a deep breath and steeled himself.
“I’m not nervous Potter, let’s go, I don’t want to be late” Draco said.
“As you wish, Malfoy.”
*******************************************************
The green flames disappeared behind them as they stepped off Grimmauld’s hearth in the drawing room. Harry heard Sirius’ jumpy footsteps from the first floor before he came barrelling down the stairs, yelling “Moony, they’re here!”
“I’m right here darling, you don’t have to shout”, Remus sighed just as he came around the door from the kitchen.
Harry hugged Remus, then Sirius. Draco was still standing by the hearth, looking a little flushed and out of place. Harry went to him and took his hand.
“Here he is, in the flesh. My boyfriend, Draco Malfoy.” Harry smiled cheekily. Draco went redder.
“Welcome to our home, Draco” Remus smiled.
“Hello Profes- pardon, hello Mr Lupin, and Mr Black. Thank you for inviting me. I hope you like wine.”
“It’s our pleasure, here let me take that, come on in. And it’s Sirius and Remus, Mr Black is no way to call your cousin, is it.” Sirius put a hand around Draco’s shoulders and pulled him into the drawing room.
“Kreacher will let us know when dinner’s ready, should be anytime now. Would you both like a drink in the meantime?” Remus asked.
“We’re fine, thanks Remus.” Harry knew Draco probably needed some time to settle in before he stopped feeling queasy.
Harry was surprised at first, how nervous Draco had seemed to meet Sirius and Remus. He still struggled with being open with people that aren’t Harry. He had apologised to Hermione and the Weasleys for the past, and Harry knew Draco wanted to be better and let go of the bigotry of his youth. But most of all, Draco had told him, “they’re your family, Harry. I want you more than anything, and I’d do anything if it meant you’ll be happy. If your family accepting me makes you happy, I’d try my absolute best to make that happen.” It was one of the little moments that added up to him realising he was in love, that he’d found the one that would choose him no matter what, for better or for worse.
“How is Narcissa? I haven’t talked to her since she moved to France.”
“She’s doing great. Aunt Andromeda visits her often, and she has family there too. I was afraid she might be too lonely there, but I understood she needed to leave, at least for a while.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” muttered Sirius. “How are you? I hear you’re starting your potions mastery soon”
“Yes I am. Professor Teabing used to teach at Beauxbatons, he’s moving back to England now to take up the Potions post at Hogwarts since Slughorn retired. I’m very lucky that he took me in at the last minute.”
“And I couldn’t be prouder.” Harry smiled, kissing Draco’s hand.
“That’s wonderful. I wish you the best. I can only hope Harry figures out what he wants to actually do soon, I’m tired of seeing him unhappy training for the Aurors.”
“I told you Sirius, one year. I promised myself to try it for one full year.”
“What’s the point if you’re quitting anyway? Don’t deny it, I know you hate it.”
“Well- it’s the principle of it! And I know Ron will quit too soon, he’s gonna join George at the shop after he gets married. I’m just gonna hang on until then at least. I can’t possibly leave him alone now, can I?”
“Both of you knuckleheads should figure it out and save us all the moping.” Draco said.
“Fine, why are we even talking about this anyway? You know what, I’m gonna go check on dinner. Sirius, come with me.”
Harry felt bad leaving Draco alone with Remus, but he was the parent he’d rather leave him alone with. On the downside, Sirius was useless in the kitchen.
“You know we’re going to mess up whatever’s cooking here and Kreacher will have our heads right?”
Harry grunted, still moody.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to put you off, sorry darling.” Sirius held him tight in a bear hug. Harry loved that about him, he’d been getting these hugs from Sirius for the past 6 years, and he knew he’d never be tired of them.
“I know…”
“So.. Draco seems different. Not much, mind you. He’s still poncy, and I can feel the Black-ness from him, reminds me of the good old days with dear mum.”
Harry laughed. “Yeah he’s still a git. But he’s so much more than that. He’s so… caring and loving and never lets me forget for a second that I’m loved too. He helped me so much. I suppose we helped each other, needed each other after the war. I wouldn’t be this happy and in love with life without him.”
“I know, darling. I can see it, you know. How happy you are with him. I know I threw a fit at first, I mean… he’s a Malfoy.. But people are not always who they used to be, and they certainly need not be the same as their family. I should know” Sirius winked.
“Thanks, Sirius. I know you’re not his biggest fan, and I suppose I was just nervous that he might feel unaccepted. He’s really trying, you know. For me, more than anything. I don’t want him to feel unhappy or let down.”
“Harry. You being happy and safe is all that Remus and I care about. And he makes you happy. Keeps you safe. Knows what’s good for you. We can see that, and that’s all we want. I’m sure we can get over whatever other reservations we might have. Knowing Remus, he has none. I’ll get over myself, trust me.”
Harry hugged him, heard Draco in his head telling him you’re so loved, Harry. And he knew that will always be true.
“Promise me you won’t say something to make him uncomfortable on purpose?” Harry asked.
“Come on, kid, where’s the fun in that?” He laughed at the look on Harry’s face. “Alright alright. I’ll hold it in. At least for now.”
“Thank you”
Kreacher popped into the kitchen. “I hope Masters have not touched anything while Kreacher was gone.” He narrowed his eyes.
“Oh no Kreacher, we were just here for water, weren’t we Harry?”
Harry nodded.
“Well then. Dinner is being served now, I is collecting Master Remus and young Master Malfoy now.” He popped away.
************************************
Draco was herded into the dining room by an overeager house elf. Harry smiled and pecked him on the cheek before pulling his chair out for him.
Dinner was amazing. Krecher, the elf, kept telling him how mistress Narcissa has also loved his beef Wellington whenever she visited as a young girl. It was starting to get a bit too much for him when Sirius thanked Kreacher and sent him away for the night.
Sitting there, with Harry’s family, Harry next to him laughing and being lively the way he rarely is these days stirred something warm in his heart. You are my family, he had told Draco, and Draco could believe it with all his heart at this moment. Everything that had happened between them since they were eleven had led to this. Every fight, every insult, every hurt and all the blood and the war. It was a miracle, and yet not so unbelievable. They had been in each other’s orbits for eight years, it was inevitable that they collided in an inseparable manner. Harry’s godfather is his cousin, and Harry’s godson is his cousin. Harry is the Black Heir now, Draco’s mother’s family’s legacy. A mother’s love for Harry had ended the first war, and a mother’s love for Draco had ended the second. His wand had been the one that helped Harry defeat Voldemort, Harry’s testimony was what had saved Draco from Azkaban. They had hurt each other again and again before they saved each other. Draco knew that nothing else mattered anymore, Harry was everything. He’d die for him, live for him, for this new family.
***********************************************
“Thank you for inviting me to your home again. Dinner was wonderful.” Draco said, and received warm smiles and hugs as they were leaving.
“The pleasure was all ours, Draco. We will see you soon, I hope. I believe you are coming with Harry to Ron and Hermione’s wedding next month.”
“Yes I am. Goodnight Remus. Sirius.”
“See you, kid.” Sirius bid them goodnight.
“I’ll be staying with Draco tonight. Don’t wait up.”
“Use protec-” Sirius started, when he was dragged away by Remus.
“Blimey, he just wants to embarrass me on purpose.” Draco just laughed as he stepped onto the floo.
Back at the Manor, Harry pulled Draco into a tight embrace. “I hope that was okay. Did they say something weird to you? Sorry I left you with Remus, I had to reel in Sirius or he’d have been a menace.”
“It was fine, Harry. More than fine, trust me.”
“What did you two talk about?”
“He wanted to know more about my Potions mastery and what I plan to do after that. I think he misses being a professor. He seemed excited about me going back to Hogwarts and getting to assist Teabing.”
“Yeah, I know he does. But he wouldn’t go back. Sirius tried talking to him about it. And with Dumbledore and Snape gone… we don’t know if it’s safe for him there, at least for now.”
“Hmm, I thought so too.”
“Is that all you talked about?”
Draco smiled. “We did talk about you…”
“What did he say?” Harry narrowed his eyes.
“He told me he was happy for us, and that he can see how much better you are now, and he thanked me for it. Although it is the other way, and I did mention that to him.”
Harry held him tight. “Sirius told me the same thing. That he’s happy for us”, he mumbled into Draco’s shoulder.
“That’s good. I was more nervous about him accepting me.”
“I told you, love. You have nothing to worry about. The people that really do love me can see how much you mean to me. Who cares about the rest?”
Draco held him tighter.
Harry knew they had some tough times ahead. Only his and Draco’s closest circle of friends and family knew about them now. That will change when he takes Draco with him to Ron and Hermione’s wedding. Everyone the Weasley’s know and the people from the Ministry are going to be there. It wouldn’t take long for word to get out. Harry was scared about the general public’s reaction, whether it might cause Draco harm. He knew Draco was also afraid he might tarnish Harry’s reputation. But they would protect each other, and so will their family. All they needed was each other and family, nothing else matters. Draco was essential. He was everything.
Harry knew he held the meaning of his existence and his whole future in his arms, and would fight Voldemort all over again if he got to keep it.