Choices

Chapter 16

Ginny tiptoed through the door, trying to avoid waking anyone up in these early hours of the morning. However, she didn't know that Harry hasn't been able to sleep, so he stood as she entered. "Gin, where have you been?"

Her eyes snapped up to the sudden voice and she mumbled something.

"Sorry?" Harry folded his arms.

She spoke louder. "I was out with my...knitting club."

Harry looked skeptic, but didn't say anything. "Alright, then why are you coming home at three in the morning?"

Ginny stood taller, feeling threatened. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Couldn't sleep, I have a lot going on. You're avoiding the question. What were you doing?" He turned on the living room light. Now he got a good look at Ginny. She had hickeys all over her neck and her cheeks were flushed. Harry stood there for a moment, his expression the same as before he saw her. Inside, he was seething. He silently turned and went upstairs. He grabbed his trunk from school, made it bottomless, and pack all of his things in it. He then went to Albus' room and packed his things as well. He shrunk the trunk, put it in his pocket, picked Albus up carefully as to not wake him, and walked out. Before he got too far, Ginny called, "Where are you going?"

Harry turned and glared at her, a look that could scare death itself. "I don't know, but I'm not staying here." He turned and walked off into the night, leaving a disgruntled Ginerva behind.
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Harry walked through the deserted streets, the night giving way for morning all too slowly. Albus stirred in his arms as Harry shivered, the coldness chilling him to the bone. He needed to get through muggle London to get to Andromeda's house, where he hoped to find respite. Shadows seemed to follow him, watching his every move as if waiting for the right moment to attack. He walked a little faster as he heard a branch snap, his steps loud on the cobbles. He gave up after a while, and  apparated to her house.

The sight warmed him slightly, the windows lit up as though expecting him. He walked to the door and knocked, but before he could the door swung open and Andromeda grabbed him in a bone crushing hug and pulled him in. "Harry. I know all about it. Take Albus to Teddy's room, I already set up a bed for him." Harry, bewildered, did what she asked. He then went back to where Andromeda was and sat on the couch. The living room warmed him the rest of the way, the fireplace literally and the homely decor figuratively. Andromeda sat next to him in a rocking chair and picked up her knitting needles. "Before you ask, I can tell you how I knew. I have seen Ginerva coming and going from that house there across the way." She pointed with a yarn covered needle out the window. Harry glances out to where she was pointing. He couldn't see much, but there was a sign out front. "What does the sign say?" He asked.

Andromeda looked at him over her glasses. "It says, 'Zabini'."

She watched Harry carefully. His eye twitched, a flower pot zoomed across the room and broke on the wall. She cast repairo and it was fixed. Other than that, he just sat there calmly. "Oh." He finally said.

Andromeda went back to her knitting. "Perhaps some sleep will help."

Harry turned back to her, aware he was not alone in the room. "Hm. Perhaps."

He stood and walked to the guest bedroom, flopped down fully clothed, and fell asleep.

That morning, Harry awoke to the smell of breakfast. His stomach grumbled, announcing its need for food after nothing for a day. He groggily got dressed and went to the kitchen. On his way he passed through the living room and saw that Teddy and Albus were playing together, both boys smiling. Albus looked up at him as he passed. "Daddy!"

Harry smiles at his son. "Hey buddy! How's it going?"

"Good. Me an Teddy are payin."

"I see that. Where's Auntie?"

"Cookin"

Harry continued his journey to the kitchen and saw Andromeda doing exactly that. "Good morning Harry. Glad to see your better. Oh, someone is coming over today, I hope you don't mind."

"Who?"

"Not Ginerva, don't worry."

Harry frowned quizzically. Who could it be then?

A crack outside was heard and Andromeda smiles slyly. "Harry, why don't you get that? I'm a little preoccupied."

"Sure." He walked over to the wooden door and opened it. He stood there shock, bewildered at the man standing in front of him. "Malfoy?"

The blonde blinked. "Potter." He seemed as surprised as Harry.

Andromeda yelled from the kitchen, "Well come in! Don't just stand there like a scarecrow."

Harry moves out of the way so Draco could enter. He looked exactly as Harry had thought, except thinner. He looked tired, his sharp features dropping slightly and the bags under his eyes more obvious than they were.

Draco moves past him and entered the house. Only now does Harry realize that he was carrying a child, and watched as he set the toddler down by Teddy and Albus. The two other boys started playing with the blonde kid.

Draco stands and looks again at Harry. "Nice to see you again Potter." His face remained expressionless, and Harry's surname was said without contempt. In fact, it had soft undertones to it....Harry dismissed that thought as quickly as it came.  It was probably his imagination.

"You as well...Draco." Harry chanced at using his given name, just to see what would happen.

First, Draco blinked in surprise. Then he glanced at Harry's lips too fast for anyone to notice. His mouth was open in a surprised 'o' , and he closed it. Then he cleared his throat, nodded, and looked over Harry's shoulder to Andromeda. She shrugged. Then she smiled mischievously.

"Alright. So I can see you two have some business to talk about. I'll take the three little ones to the park across the way." As she passed Draco she whispered, "Give me a signal when you want me to come back." Then she winked and left.

Harry plopped down on the couch, Draco in the rocking chair. Harry cleated his throat. "So..."

Draco smiled slightly. "Ever eloquent as usual."

Harry gave him a playful look, then smiled broadly. Draco was taken by the loveliness in that smile. He smiled all the way and looked out the window. "Andromeda is quite a witch."

Harry kept looking at Draco, how muscular he was even though he was thinner. "Indeed" he managed to say.

Draco looked back at him and caught Harry staring. They were stuck in each other's gaze, Harry's vivid green clashing with Draco's intelligent silver. After a few minutes, Harry broke eye contact and looked at the soft carpet at his feet, turning pink. Draco smirked and watched him turn red, knowing that he was causing that. He decided to make a bold move and sat next to Harry, forcing the brown haired man to look at him again. "Shall we continue? Or is the past past?"

Harry has no words, or if he did they were under lock and key in his brain. He simply stared at him, remembering times from before the end of the war.

Draco leaned in with his eyes closed, and Harry found himself doing the same. But before their lips connected Harry remembered that he had just left his wife, and shouldn't be doing this now. He hesitated and Draco, sensing the hesitation, backed off. "Sorry, I um..."

Harry suddenly grabbed Draco by the shirt and crashed their lips together, hungry after so many years of Ginny. Draco ran his hands through Harry's dark unruly hair and tilted his head up, giving Harry a better angle. They stayed together like this until they had to stop for air, their lips red and puffy. Draco looked at Harry, his face showing none of his emotions save for the sparkling in his eyes. He then went to the window and signaled Andromeda to come back. When she came in, he took the kid he came with and apparated away with a final fleeting look at Harry.

Andromeda looked at Harry's flushed cheeks and red lips and smiled, raising her eyebrows.

Harry looked at her. "What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing, nothing at all."