Chapter Eight
"And how is my little monster of a cousin?" Draco eagerly took Teddy from Harry and started bouncing him on his knee, speaking to him the way Harry did - as though he were having a full conversation. Teddy babbled back to him in fluent baby-talk, sometimes in such a serious voice that he sounded like he was really speaking. Something about his cousin made Draco happier than most anything else, even when the kid was crying.
Finally, he looked up at Harry. "How's he been?"
"One word: teething." Harry winced. "He's doing okay right now, but he's been grizzling and crying on and off ever since last week."
"Isn't there a spell or a potion for that?"
"You'd think, wouldn't you? But apparently, it's bad to use too much magic on babies. So he's just got a teething ring instead."
"Well, he'll probably be passed this stage soon, at least."
"One can only pray," Harry smiled. "On the upside, he's started using his first words."
"Really?" Draco asked excitedly, "What's he said?"
"Andromeda is 'Ga-ma', and Ted is 'Ga-da'."
Confused, Draco raised an eyebrow. "Those aren't real words,"
"Apparently, anything used to label one specific person or object is considered a word, as long as they use it repeatedly."
"Wow. Who knew? Teddy, can you say Draco? Come on. Draco." Teddy giggled.
"No way, he's saying my name first," Harry grinned. "You can say that, can't you, Teddy?" Say, Harry."
Teddy pointed at Harry. "Ha!"
"Close enough," Harry reached across the table and ruffled Teddy's hair.
"Ha, Ha," Teddy burbled happily. His hair, which had been yellow since they had arrived, now turned messily brown. It still caught Draco off-guard when Teddy changed his appearance like that.
When Draco looked back up at Harry, he noticed strain in the skin around his eyes. He looked tired.
"You okay?" Draco asked.
"Why?"
"You don't look too good."
"Thanks," Harry laughed a little, but Draco persisted.
"I know you, Harry. I can tell when you're feeling down about something."
Draco watched Harry closely. Teddy, sensing Draco tense, stopped babbling. Harry sighed.
"I'm just tired. It's nothing, really."
"My arse."
"Language! Young ears are present, Draco."
Teddy, sensing they were talking about him, giggled at Harry's chastising tone.
"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine," Draco continued, "But don't bother lying. You've never been good at it."
Harry's jaw clenched. Then he started to talk. "All my life, there was a purpose to my existence, and I knew what I needed to do, and why. I had to defeat Voldemort, and then I could live my life. Then I did it, and now, I'm stuck. There's no reason for me to be alive. There's no plan. Just me, eating out of habit, sleeping for something to do. Existing. I'm watching my friends leaving me behind, carrying on their lives like they know what to do. And I can't fix myself."
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What If? -Drarry
Fanfiction[Complete] What if Draco had met Harry differently? What if they had started as friends? I try to follow JK's basic storyline so it seems similar to the books and movies, but with some differences (obviously) to make the Drarry happen :D from both H...
