Fatherhood | drarry teen adoptive parents au

fifty | home

Harry and Draco continued this odd half existence for several more weeks before Harry was finally allowed home in the spring, an existence of sleep and skipping meals and catching up in the evenings at the hospital bed and therapy and reminiscence.

Whenever Draco wasn't at the hospital, he was focusing his attention into the new place he had bought for his little family to live in - the Burrow didn't feel like home any more after all that had happened, so he'd found the three of them a place in London, to be near Hermione and Ron's new place, so they could all support one another. Neville had also moved in nearby, struggling greatly with the loss of Luna but growing gradually stronger by the week.

They all spoke to the rest of the Weasleys as often as they could, too, and Draco sent money up every month from his and Harry's shared bank account. Although he was often remonstrated by Molly for this, he was never rejected, and told her every time that it was his thanks for her care of Casper while he'd been in Azkaban. All the money in Gringott's couldn't truly cover the gratitude he felt for this act of kindness from the family, so Draco felt it was the least he and Harry could do.

The apartment he had ultimately chosen in London wasn't as impressive as his usual tastes, but it was a spacious, tasteful Georgian build complete with the cherrywood floors and velvet sofas he and Harry had discussed for their imagined place in Paris.

There was even a little balcony looking over the street with intricate wrought-iron rails, though Draco wasn't sure how much use they'd get out of it now Casper was able to properly run around and climb things. The rails were high and closely woven together with no space to fall through, but from three years of being Casper's dad, Draco had learnt that the little boy was a minx and could get into anything.

The morning Harry was allowed home was a sunny Thursday morning in early May.

Draco was up early, casting Cleaning spells and tidying up after his toddler, who was intent on charging through the apartment and messing up everything Draco cleaned, until eventually he decided it was time for his son to have his lunchtime nap a little earlier than usual, so he could get some work done.

"You're a little rat, Cassy J," he whispered fondly as he tucked the sleepy three-year-old into his own bed and kissed his forehead.

Then he could return to business.

Within an hour, Draco had got an amazing-smelling meal cooking on the stove, the apartment was fresh and tidy, and everything was ready for Harry to come home. He knew his boyfriend would be walking with a cane, an uncomfortably 'Lucius Malfoy' accessory, so he made sure the rugs were smoothed down and there was nothing for him to trip over. God, he was excited.

He showered and got dressed, then went to wake up his son. He hadn't told Cas yet what was happening that day, thinking it better not to have to deal with the extra hyperactiveness on top of his usual standard, but instead thought it would be a nice surprise for the little boy.

"Come on, Cas," he said gently, picking up the little boy and holding him close. "We're going to see Daddy now. Do you remember what I asked you to say to him? Remember what we practiced?"

Casper nodded, taking his thumb out of his mouth to respond. "Yes, I say 'Hello Daddy, woul' you like to ma-"

"Oh, you're going to go straight in with it?" Draco laughed. "No build up, just a hello, then dive in? Ok, whatever you think. I trust your judgement, you're a wise little guy."