The Bonds That Unite Us

° Chapter Twenty-Four °

The Heir Rings.
"Please just take care of him."

×××

"I want you and Draco to adopt Teddy," Andromeda said. Harry felt Draco's thoughts flood his mind. "What if I mess up? What if I turn into my father? What if Teddy becomes depressed? I can't become my father, not like that." The Gryffindor took the Slytherin's hand, trying to send him a comfortable feeling. "Hey, hey, hey. I'm here with you. I promise we'll raise Teddy better than we were taught."

"Is this what you've been planning all this time? How could you have not even think to-" Harry was cut off by her soft voice.

"You could never have done anything more for me than take care of my Ted bear. I know we both share an extreme love for him. I only ask you to let me see him over the years, I intend to travel the world with Narcissa." Andromeda stated. Draco looked at his mother with a slight smile but tears filled his eyes.

Harry wiped his eyes, "Andy of course he'll get to see you." He whispered. The older lady smiled brightly as Narcissa gripped her hand. "I want to get to know my sister once again, so thank you, Harry," Andromeda stated with a soft smile as the two sisters gripped each other's hands.

"I have the papers in this bag for everything! This bag holds my will, the adoption papers, and the Lord and Heir rings are in a small box." Andromeda stated. Harry took the small bag with shaky hands from the older lady's outstretched hand, he gulped slightly.

Hermione rubbed his back for comfort. "When are the papers to be sent to Gringotts?" The bushy-haired girl asked softly. "In the next three weeks, but I would like to take Teddy to America with me after you guys go back to Hogwarts." 

"Of course Andromeda, we could never keep Teddy from you," Draco said in a whisper. Andromeda smiled but Harry couldn't feel anything. He drowns everything out as the group moved on with the conversation.

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After a few hours, Harry got a chance to slip out of the room. He silently walked back into his bedroom with ease. He sat on the bed with his head in his hands. "Harry? Love? Where did you disappear off to?"

"I needed time to myself. It's a lot to process right now..." Harry thought to Draco. "Oh well here comes your squad of Gryffindorks!" Harry just shook his head with a small smile. "You're smiling aren't you?" The Slytherin asked. "Maybe..."

Suddenly he heard the door open and he looked up. Ron, Hermione, and Neville walked in with Teddy. "Hawwy!" The boy squealed. Harry took the small boy from Ron's arms.

"Hey, buddy." He whispered as Neville and Ron sat on the floor and Hermione sat next to him. "What's up, mate?" Ron asked. The other two Gryffindor's looked at him.

Harry began his rant; "Just everything's going to be different from now on. I'm going to have Teddy around all the time, Draco will have a choice to stay with me or at Malfoy Manor alone. I gained so many more friends and I just can't bloody believe it."

Hermione smiled as tears filled her eyes. "It will be different, but it's a good thing, isn't it? I mean... We deserve to be happy for once as the last time I remember ever being so carefree was maybe the second year. At this point, I would kill to have a happy life."

Ron nodded slightly, leaning forward with a soft hum. "After everything, I felt like I was suffocating when Fred died. We all went into dark places after the war and sometimes it gets a hard mate." The ginger smiled slightly.

"Yeah, he makes a point, for the first time in forever-" Neville ducked as he tried to avoid Ron's pillow that he threw.

"As I was saying, we all are adjusting to these new things. We don't know if we will get rid of these bonds. Yet we all know that we have each other now and have a life to live. How are we going to waste it?" Neville asked. Hermione looked at the three with a smirk, "I have an idea."

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Draco looked up, people started saying their goodbyes. He walked George and Angelina to the floo. "Thank you guys for coming, it meant the world to Harry and I."

"Of course. It meant a lot to be asked." George stated. Angelina went ahead and left the two males alone. "Thank you," George said suddenly.

"For what?" Draco asked, a small frown on his face. "Coming to Fred's funeral. I guess at that time I knew you didn't want anyone to get hurt. But seeing how you treat Harry... I know you're a good person deep inside." George spoke softly, his eyes glazed over.

"It was never my intention for someone to be harmed, George. I didn't ask for my life and the path I was pushed on. Seeing people so carelessly killed without mercy... It changes a person. Remember that." Draco said, his insides freezing.

"I will... We've been through a war. War changes people Draco... Everyone. Not just one person. Don't hide things from Harry because he'll figure it out eventually." George turned to the floo, getting inside before frowning. "Oh and... Not everyone is as happy as they seem." And with that, the brunette was gone in a single whoosh.

Draco was speechless. Narcissa silently walked in, wrapping her arms around her son. Not once so ever was he expecting to have a heart to heart with a Weasley. What just happened?