Title: His Daughter’s Father Part 13

Email: tirel@pcnuthut.com

Site: https://www.angelfire.com/tv2/firebird_ascending/

Author: Constant Vigilance

Disclaimer: JK Rowling is God. I own nothing.

Distribution: Sure. Just lemme know where my baby’s going.

Spoilers: Up to GoF. Book 5 never happened. *Growls at Rowling*

Summary: Bonding ceremonies.

The bonding ceremony was quiet and simple. Harry had requested nothing splashy. He didn’t want fanfare, he only wanted with him the people he loved most on this, the day he chose to bind his soul to the love of his life. Ron and Hermione, of course, were in attendance. Sirius and Remus made it, having been given special permission to take time from their current Order mission to see their godson wed.

The rest of the Weasley clan had bustled in not too long after the Order members’ arrival…the whole clan. Harry had tentatively requested that the 7^th year Gryffindors be allowed to come as well. Draco had heaved a put-upon sigh and then grinned in agreement. McGonagall ushered the students in and silently pointed to the row of chairs they were to occupy.

As for Draco’s guests, he was saddened to see so few. For his entire life, he’d known that he was to have a grand wedding with everyone who’d ever mattered in attendance. It hit him as he was filling his own meager invitation cards. He discovered an ache he couldn’t quite get rid of when he realized how much he’d truly given up. He’d stared at the invitations, trying separately to hold back the tears, when his eyes fell on the words:

~Your presence is requested at the joining ceremony of Harry James Potter and Draco Lucius Malfoy. Witness as two souls are bound together in love and commitment. ~

Then the smile came. The tears vanished as though they’d never threatened, and all was right in Draco Malfoy’s world again. He didn’t need the flamboyance. He didn’t need the hordes of guests. All he needed was Harry. After that, he filled out his portion of guest invites --Narcissa, Severus, Pansy and Millicent--with a smile.

Draco had vetoed any silly notion of someone giving Harry or him away by walking them down the aisle, however when Narcissa gave a sad smile and understanding nod, Draco caved. Mostly. He still refused to be escorted down the aisle, but he and Harry agreed to walk together to their bonding spot to placate the manipulative woman. And manipulative was indeed the word. Harry could have sworn that he saw her grinning wickedly at Snape as soon as Draco had agreed with a sigh.

Thus, the witnesses and gathered loved ones waited patiently in the room for the two nervous bridegrooms to begin their walk together. They would come out of an adjoining room that was serving as a dressing room. Hermione and Ron emerged from the grooms’ room and took their place next to Dumbledore. A moment later, Snape entered from a side door and placed himself on the other side of Dumbledore. They were to be the three official signing witnesses.

The other guests shifted in excitement, knowing the boys would be out soon. Dumbledore looked resplendent in the ornate officiate robes he’d transfigured. However, all eyes moved from him as soon as Harry and Draco entered the room. They wore simple dress robes, Harry in white, red and gold and Draco in white, green and silver. What caused them to stand out were the looks of absolute adoration for each other.

Draco offered his arm to Harry, a look of pride on his face. Harry, beaming in happiness, took it gladly. They had eyes for only one another as they moved down the short distance to Dumbledore. They repeated their vows in clear and confident voices, their hearts in their eyes and in their words. They gently slipped rings onto their partner’s fingers and each gave the other’s hand a tiny kiss before returning to the ceremony.

When Dumbledore pronounced the bond complete, Harry and Draco turned to look at each other. They didn’t kiss immediately as the headmaster suggested. Instead, they stared into each other’s eyes, speaking all of the words the ceremony couldn’t convey. Only when the sniffling and sobbing from the crowd interfered with their solitude did they finally lean forward to join in a sweet, sincere kiss before turning to face their friends.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Food and drink ran in abundance and the happy couple invited everyone to the reception held in the Great Hall, the only room that could hold the whole of the school body. Granted, not everyone showed, most noticeably absent was the bulk of the Slytherin House. However, there were some surprises.

Crabbe and Goyle made an appearance long enough to quietly congratulate Draco, wishing him happiness and good health. When Pansy and Millicent caught sight of them, the boys turned tail and headed back to the dungeons. But it was enough. Draco’s heart swelled at the knowledge that he wasn’t universally hated by all he’d once called friends.

Hours later, Harry was weaving on his feet and Draco demanded that he rest. He was about to lead the Gryffindor to the dorms when Dumbledore approached them. “Boys, I have a wedding present for you,” the old man smiled.

“Headmaster, I thought we said no presents,” Harry returned the smile wryly.

Dumbledore held up his hands defensively. “I think you’ll both like this one, children,” his eyes twinkled at them. “Besides, I was going to present it to you at the end of the year, I just decided to move up my timeline a bit.”

“Can it wait, sir?” Draco asked as he felt Harry’s weight increase on his arm. “Harry is exhausted.”

“Ah, then I’ve come just in time. Follow me, gentlemen.” Dumbledore moved off and the boys exchanged looks of fond exasperation before following him. He led them to a second floor hallway. At the end of the corridor, he stopped in front of a large painting of a phoenix. “Candied apples,” he stated clearly. The painting opened up smoothly and the headmaster stepped aside with a large smile and waved the boys inside.

Warily, they stepped in. Before them lay a suite of rooms. From the doorway, Harry could see the sitting room and the open doors to a bedroom and a bathroom. “What is this, Headmaster?” he asked quietly.

Dumbledore bowed slightly. “These are your quarters, my boys,” he said almost gleefully. “They were to become yours upon your return to Hogwarts as staff members. However, they’re finely suited for the occasion of your bonding as well.”

Draco sighed and eyed the old man. “You knew we’d bond, didn’t you?” he asked wryly.

Dumbledore looked terribly innocent as he shook his head. “Of course not, Mr. Malfoy. I couldn’t predict that sort of thing. I did, however,” he wiggled his eyebrows, “hope that you might choose to do so and thus took the liberty of creating a safe haven for the rest of the year and for your future.” He pointed to a door that had been pulled shut and Harry ventured that direction with a curious smile.

As he opened the door, he gasped. Draco was at his side in less time than it took to finish the airy sound. The boys stood side by side in the doorway ogling the room in front of them. Done all in pink clouds and rainbows, the nursery was full to the brim with every imaginable item a newborn and her parents might need. Harry turned back to Dumbledore, tears in his eyes.

“Thank you, sir,” he choked.

The headmaster gently patted Harry on the shoulder. “It’s nothing more than you deserve, my boy. Than both of you deserve,” his gaze took in Draco. “I’m happy to be able to provide it for you. Now,” he rubbed his hands together. “I seem to recall a certain expectant father was exhausted. I’ll take my leave of you both and let you enjoy your first evening in your rooms.”

Draco nodded and saw Dumbledore to the portrait entrance. “Thank you,” he said softly, staring into the older wizard’s soft blue eyes.

Dumbledore chucked Draco under the chin and smiled down at him. “I love him too, my boy.” With that, the portrait swung shut behind him and Harry and Draco were left alone for the first time in hours.

Draco held his arms out and Harry moved into them with a contented sigh. “Finally,” Harry breathed.

“Finally what, love?” Draco smiled into the brunette’s hair.

Harry nuzzled his nose into Draco’s neck and brushed his lips across the pale skin. “Finally we’re alone? Finally we’re bonded? Finally I belong to you body and soul?” Harry flicked his tongue out and ran a tiny line down Draco’s neck. “Pick whichever one you like.”

Draco shivered at the slick feel of Harry’s tongue. “Can I pick all of them?” he breathed.

Harry nodded into the nook where he’d placed his face. “As long as you don’t let go of me, you can pick any damn thing you’d like.”

Draco grinned and clutched Harry tighter. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Draco,” Harry lifted his face to Draco’s and stared deeply into his eyes. “You are the most amazing man I’ve ever known.”

Draco didn’t reply, he just lowered his head, allowing his lips to take possession of his bonded. Harry’s eyes fluttered closed and he gave into the warm tingling running though his body. Draco gently sucked Harry’s lower lip into his mouth and ran his tongue across the inside flesh of Harry’s mouth. A low whimper rose from Harry’s throat and Draco smiled against his lips.

He thrust his tongue against Harry’s lips, which opened effortlessly under the heat of Draco’s advance. The blonde tasted the sweet tang that was his bonded and decided that nothing in the world could taste as sweet. Locking his arms around Harry’s waist, careful not to press to hard against the baby, Draco moved Harry backwards to the open door of the bedroom.

Harry was completely lost. He didn’t even notice when they started moving. He only realized they’d moved at all because of the bed pressing against the back of his thighs. As Draco pushed him gently back he realized that he’d also lost the majority of his clothing. With a slight smile, he shrugged it off and concentrated on the heady feeling Draco inspired in him.

Draco carefully eased the opened robes off of Harry’s torso. He felt tears prick the back of his eyes and he paused a moment to fully take in the sight in front of him. Harry lay, flushed and panting, looking more beautiful than any person had a right to be. Draco ran his eyes down Harry’s chest to the sudden swell of Harry’s belly. He lifted his hand to the distended flesh and hesitantly let it hover.

Taking his own lip between his teeth, Draco lowered his hand and nearly lost the tentative control he had on his emotions. It was their baby, he thought fiercely. No matter who hurt his Harry, this baby was Harry and Draco’s. It was a testament to Harry’s strength and their love. She would be all right. She would. And Harry would be just fine as well. Draco would have a loving husband and a healthy baby girl in his life.

Suddenly, the terror that had filled him for the last few weeks ebbed. In its place came a shining, warm light that inched into all the dark places in his heart, in his soul. “I love you, Harry,” he whispered, knowing his voice sounded choked with tears. He didn’t wait for an answer. He tugged the boxers off of Harry’s waist and immediately engulfed his bonded in the warm and wet cavern of his mouth.

Harry keened, bucking his hips up into Draco’s mouth. Draco smiled against the curly hairs crowning the junction of Harry’s thighs. He found a rhythm that pulled every whimper, every wail from Harry’s throat. He played Harry’s body like a finely tuned instrument; and just when Harry thought that he would lose his mind, Draco met his eyes over the burgeoning mound that was their child.

Harry tried to keep his eyes on Draco. He truly tried, but the white-hot heat running through his body forced his eyes closed against his will. He screamed, not even knowing what he was saying and when he came back to earth he found Draco gently suckling him clean. He smiled down at his beloved and held his arms out. Draco scurried up his body and allowed Harry to wrap him into an embrace.

“Thank you, love,” Harry whispered. “That was the most amazing thing.”

Draco grinned. “Nope. You are the most amazing thing. That was just years of practice and untold skill.”

Harry smacked Draco’s arm and glared. “I don’t want to hear about your torrid affairs with half of the school.”

Draco snuck his face into the cook of Harry’s neck. “I didn’t have torrid affairs with half of the school, love,” he grinned. “And the ones I did have torrid affairs with mean absolutely nothing to me now.” He leaned up a bit to look Harry in the eye. “I love you with every breath I breathe, Harry. That will never change and no one can take you away from me, nor me from you. No one,” he emphasized.

Harry smiled at the heartfelt sincerity in Draco’s voice. “I know, Draco,” he whispered. “It just drives me insane knowing that someone else touched you.” He flushed in embarrassment. “Of course, I really have no right to feel that way, being pregnant with some other man’s baby.” The shame could clearly be heard in his words and Draco shifted their positions so that he was the one holding Harry.

“Shhh,” he stroked Harry’s face. “You know I don’t think about you…or her…that way. You had something horrible happen to you, Harry. But somehow, there’s this amazing gift as a result,” he stroked Harry’s stomach. “This baby is mine,” he continued. “I don’t care who fathered her. I’ve watched her grow every day for over 8 months. I’ve held you, and inside of you I’ve held her. She is my daughter. I wouldn’t change a single thing about the entire experience except your pain, Harry.”

Harry didn’t notice the tears slipping down his cheeks. Only by Draco wiping them gently away did he know he shed them. “Thank you,” he leaned into Draco’s hand. “For loving me. For loving her. For being here for us.”

“Oh, Harry-love,” Draco breathed against his skin. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”