Secrets to Keep 24
Title: Secrets to Keep 24
Author: enchanted_jae
Character(s): Harry/Draco
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Angsty
Word count: 650
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This was written for fun, not for profit.
Author's note: Twenty-fifth installment of an arc that began with Pixie Pox. Dedicated to nenne, in thanks for the Tornado Relief charity VGift, with her prompt of pocket knife.
Summary: The feces hits the fan.
Harry was busy wrapping a pocket knife as a birthday gift for Arthur Weasley when the first owl arrived. He ignored the tapping at the window in favor of trying to wrap the gift as neatly as possible. A second owl joined the first, and it was followed by another and another.
"What in the name of Merlin is going on?" muttered Harry. He drew his wand and opened the window with a flick, admitting a veritable flock of owls. Harry snatched one of the dropped messages from the air, realizing with a sinking feeling that some of the notes were angry red howlers. Harry tore open the missive in his hand. As he read it, the blood drained from his face.
~*~
Harry was slumped over the casual breakfast table at Malfoy Manor, head buried in his hands.
Draco was seated beside his lover, rubbing Harry's back in a soothing manner. His eyes were fixed on the opposite wall, and his jaw was tight with anger.
The headline in the morning edition of the Daily Prophet had proclaimed HARRY POTTER INVOLVED IN LONG-TERM LOVE AFFAIR WITH DRACO MALFOY! The accompanying article had gone on to reveal that James, Albus, Scorpius, Lily and Carina were, in fact, the offspring of Harry and Draco.
Draco had immediately gone for damage control. He had pulled all four of the older children out of Hogwarts and dispatched them to the Burrow, where Harry had insisted Ginny take the twins. Carina had been sent there, as well, while Astoria had gone to her sister's home. Draco had strengthened the wards around the Manor and instructed the house-elves not to allow any unfamiliar owls through. All that remained was to deal with the fallout.
"How are you feeling?" Draco asked quietly. He was concerned about Harry's health and that of their unborn son.
"Like I've been kicked in the stomach," mumbled Harry.
Draco tensed. "Shall I summon Hermione?" he asked.
Harry sighed and sat up straight before giving Draco a weak smile. "No, the baby is fine," he said. "I just...feel like my world has been turned upside down."
"It has been."
"Yeah," Harry said with a grimace. "I keep hoping I'll wake up and find it was all a nightmare." He leaned close and laid his head on his lover's shoulder. "What are we going to do, Draco?"
"We can't hide from this, Harry," said Draco.
Harry lifted his head, revealing eyes flashing with familiar spark. "I don't want to hide," he growled. "We've hidden long enough, and look what it's brought us."
"We did what we thought was best," Draco reminded him. "For ourselves, but especially for our children."
Harry nodded. "At least we've been able to sway the opinion of several political figures over the years." He and Draco had been quietly campaigning for the rights of homosexual wizards and witches since James was a baby. While progress had been made in raising awareness and promoting tolerance, there were still instances such as with the Haverkamp boy in James' year at Hogwarts.
"We need to do something," Harry insisted, the Gryffindor in him coming to the fore.
"We'll call a press conference," said Draco. "We will address the media and state our case, and we can use it as a platform to appeal for the rights of all gays and lesbians in wizarding society."
"Let's get Luna involved," Harry suggested, warming now to the battle plan. "We can give an exclusive interview to the Quibbler, and we'll allow her to publish some of the family photos she's taken over the years for us."
"That's an excellent suggestion," Draco said. He angled his head and pressed a quick kiss to Harry's lips. "We'll get through this," he added, "and there's only one way to do so--together."
~tbc~
Secrets to Keep 25
Author: enchanted_jae
Character(s): Harry/Draco
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Angsty
Word count: 650
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This was written for fun, not for profit.
Author's note: Twenty-fifth installment of an arc that began with Pixie Pox. Dedicated to nenne, in thanks for the Tornado Relief charity VGift, with her prompt of pocket knife.
Summary: The feces hits the fan.
Harry was busy wrapping a pocket knife as a birthday gift for Arthur Weasley when the first owl arrived. He ignored the tapping at the window in favor of trying to wrap the gift as neatly as possible. A second owl joined the first, and it was followed by another and another.
"What in the name of Merlin is going on?" muttered Harry. He drew his wand and opened the window with a flick, admitting a veritable flock of owls. Harry snatched one of the dropped messages from the air, realizing with a sinking feeling that some of the notes were angry red howlers. Harry tore open the missive in his hand. As he read it, the blood drained from his face.
~*~
Harry was slumped over the casual breakfast table at Malfoy Manor, head buried in his hands.
Draco was seated beside his lover, rubbing Harry's back in a soothing manner. His eyes were fixed on the opposite wall, and his jaw was tight with anger.
The headline in the morning edition of the Daily Prophet had proclaimed HARRY POTTER INVOLVED IN LONG-TERM LOVE AFFAIR WITH DRACO MALFOY! The accompanying article had gone on to reveal that James, Albus, Scorpius, Lily and Carina were, in fact, the offspring of Harry and Draco.
Draco had immediately gone for damage control. He had pulled all four of the older children out of Hogwarts and dispatched them to the Burrow, where Harry had insisted Ginny take the twins. Carina had been sent there, as well, while Astoria had gone to her sister's home. Draco had strengthened the wards around the Manor and instructed the house-elves not to allow any unfamiliar owls through. All that remained was to deal with the fallout.
"How are you feeling?" Draco asked quietly. He was concerned about Harry's health and that of their unborn son.
"Like I've been kicked in the stomach," mumbled Harry.
Draco tensed. "Shall I summon Hermione?" he asked.
Harry sighed and sat up straight before giving Draco a weak smile. "No, the baby is fine," he said. "I just...feel like my world has been turned upside down."
"It has been."
"Yeah," Harry said with a grimace. "I keep hoping I'll wake up and find it was all a nightmare." He leaned close and laid his head on his lover's shoulder. "What are we going to do, Draco?"
"We can't hide from this, Harry," said Draco.
Harry lifted his head, revealing eyes flashing with familiar spark. "I don't want to hide," he growled. "We've hidden long enough, and look what it's brought us."
"We did what we thought was best," Draco reminded him. "For ourselves, but especially for our children."
Harry nodded. "At least we've been able to sway the opinion of several political figures over the years." He and Draco had been quietly campaigning for the rights of homosexual wizards and witches since James was a baby. While progress had been made in raising awareness and promoting tolerance, there were still instances such as with the Haverkamp boy in James' year at Hogwarts.
"We need to do something," Harry insisted, the Gryffindor in him coming to the fore.
"We'll call a press conference," said Draco. "We will address the media and state our case, and we can use it as a platform to appeal for the rights of all gays and lesbians in wizarding society."
"Let's get Luna involved," Harry suggested, warming now to the battle plan. "We can give an exclusive interview to the Quibbler, and we'll allow her to publish some of the family photos she's taken over the years for us."
"That's an excellent suggestion," Draco said. He angled his head and pressed a quick kiss to Harry's lips. "We'll get through this," he added, "and there's only one way to do so--together."
~tbc~
Secrets to Keep 25